Barkentine is a type of sailing vessel with three masts. It is spelled /ˌbɑrkənˈtaɪn/ using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The first syllable is pronounced with an open "a" sound, like "car." The second syllable is pronounced with a short "u" sound, like "cup." The third syllable has a long "i" sound, like "eye." The final two syllables are pronounced with a short "i" sound, like "pin." The word derives from "bark," a type of ship, and "entine," a suffix used to indicate size or youth.
A barkentine is a type of sailing vessel that falls under the broader classification of ship, specifically a three-masted ship. This sailing ship features a combination of square and fore-and-aft rigged sails, characterized by having square sails on the foremast and fore-and-aft sails on the remaining two masts.
The barkentine typically has a foremast that is square-rigged, meaning it carries square sails designed to catch the wind coming from the bow or front of the ship. The mainmast and mizzenmast, on the other hand, are rigged with fore-and-aft sails, such as gaff or schooner sails, which are instead positioned parallel to the length of the ship. This particular rigging configuration allows the barkentine to have a greater flexibility in sail adjustment and to take advantage of a wider range of wind conditions.
This type of vessel gained prominence during the 19th and early 20th centuries, and was often used for both commercial and trading purposes. It was favored for its versatility and ability to be handled by a smaller crew compared to larger sailing ships. Barkentines were commonly used for transporting various goods like timber, cocoa, and even passengers across different maritime routes around the world.
With its distinct rigging, the barkentine stands out as a visually recognizable sailing vessel, representing an important part of maritime history and evolution of ship design and construction.
The word "barkentine" has its origins in the maritime industry. It is derived from the combination of two words: "bark" and "brigantine".
The term "bark" originally referred to a type of sailing vessel with three masts. This word comes from the Dutch word "baeck", meaning "barge" or "small ship". In the 17th century, the term "bark" became specifically associated with a ship that had square-rigged sails on the foremast and mainmast, while the mizzenmast was rigged fore-and-aft.
The word "brigantine" originally referred to a small two-masted ship. It comes from the Italian word "brigantino", which means "light vessel". The vessel was typically rigged with square sails on both masts, but later variations included fore-and-aft rigs on the mizzenmast.