Quote:
Originally Posted by GFC
Yeah, but we all know better, don't we.
When people talk about my "yacht" I not-so-gently tell them that it's not a yacht, it's a boat. Then I tell them that my definition of a yacht is one where there is a paid crew, and my crew works for wine.
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It is interesting how the language/ and languages change from area to area. We spend a lot of time boating with Brits and the common term for a pleasure boat is "yacht", no allusion to richness implied. It could reference a 28 foot day sailor or a 55 foot Nordy. The French frequently use a generic term for the same item, translated as pleasure boat, again no allusion to wealth.
We Americans frequently use "yacht" as a implication of a rich man's toy, and use "boat" as a shortening of "pleasure boat" as opposed to a navy submarine which is also a boat.
I guess if it mattered the Brits have it right, there is a class of boats used for pleasure (including non commercial fishing) which can be distinguished from other boats and they have a name for it, "yacht".