Craft (vehicle)
Encyclopedia
The word craft since the 17th century has denoted a vehicle
or vessel
that is used for transportation on the sea, in the air or in space. But it can be applied to fictional vessels such as time craft, dimensional craft, and probability craft. It is primarily used as the root word to which prefixes are added, as in aircraft
, hovercraft
, watercraft
, sailcraft
and spacecraft
.
meant any of a variety of skills or professions. In the nautical tradition, it came to mean any means of catching fish such as nets, fishing rods, etcetera. Fishing boats, as well, were included as a means of catching fish. It is this usage of referring to Fishing boats which has overwhelmed the previous one. And the word "craft" soon became synonymous with any vessel that traveled on water.
Its use as a noun originally was as a group noun, sort of a plural in a singular form, e.g., "There are many craft in the harbor." That way, one needed not distinguish between types of craft. Formerly, large sailing vessels were not all called ships, but were given names according to how many masts
they carried and how these were set with sails. Small sailing vessels were not necessarily all called boats either, but had terms of their own.
Eventually it became customary to use the word in the singular, e.g., "What a dilapidated craft!"
Vehicle
A vehicle is a device that is designed or used to transport people or cargo. Most often vehicles are manufactured, such as bicycles, cars, motorcycles, trains, ships, boats, and aircraft....
or vessel
Watercraft
A watercraft is a vessel or craft designed to move across or through water. The name is derived from the term "craft" which was used to describe all types of water going vessels...
that is used for transportation on the sea, in the air or in space. But it can be applied to fictional vessels such as time craft, dimensional craft, and probability craft. It is primarily used as the root word to which prefixes are added, as in aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
, hovercraft
Hovercraft
A hovercraft is a craft capable of traveling over surfaces while supported by a cushion of slow moving, high-pressure air which is ejected against the surface below and contained within a "skirt." Although supported by air, a hovercraft is not considered an aircraft.Hovercraft are used throughout...
, watercraft
Watercraft
A watercraft is a vessel or craft designed to move across or through water. The name is derived from the term "craft" which was used to describe all types of water going vessels...
, sailcraft
Sailcraft
For sailcraft referring to a boat etc., see*sailboat*yacht*dinghy*ice boat*land yachtSailcraft can also refer to sailing skills...
and spacecraft
Spacecraft
A spacecraft or spaceship is a craft or machine designed for spaceflight. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and transportation of humans and cargo....
.
Usage
Originally the word craftCraft
A craft is a branch of a profession that requires some particular kind of skilled work. In historical sense, particularly as pertinent to the Medieval history and earlier, the term is usually applied towards people occupied in small-scale production of goods.-Development from the past until...
meant any of a variety of skills or professions. In the nautical tradition, it came to mean any means of catching fish such as nets, fishing rods, etcetera. Fishing boats, as well, were included as a means of catching fish. It is this usage of referring to Fishing boats which has overwhelmed the previous one. And the word "craft" soon became synonymous with any vessel that traveled on water.
Its use as a noun originally was as a group noun, sort of a plural in a singular form, e.g., "There are many craft in the harbor." That way, one needed not distinguish between types of craft. Formerly, large sailing vessels were not all called ships, but were given names according to how many masts
Mast (sailing)
The mast of a sailing vessel is a tall, vertical, or near vertical, spar, or arrangement of spars, which supports the sails. Large ships have several masts, with the size and configuration depending on the style of ship...
they carried and how these were set with sails. Small sailing vessels were not necessarily all called boats either, but had terms of their own.
Eventually it became customary to use the word in the singular, e.g., "What a dilapidated craft!"