watercraftn.

1566 Act 8 Eliz. c. 13 §1 To foresee the good Encrease and Mayntenaunce of Shypps and of all kinde of Men traded and browght upp by Water Crafte moost meete for her Majesties Marine Service.

1888 C. M. Doughty Trav. Arabia Deserta I. 544 I saw Beduins swimming there, and wondered at this watercraft in men of the dry deserts.

1904 R. J. Farrer Garden of Asia 255 Their tact in water-craft is our sole protection from drowning.

1996 New Scientist 15 June 15/2 At the end of the day, you still need an element of watercraft to catch a fish, and you can't sell that to anyone.

1618 J. Taylor Pennyles Pilgrimage F 2 All the Shippes, Carackes,..Barkes, and Water-craftes, that are now..in the world.

1757 M. Postlethwayt Britain's Commerc. Interest I. vii. 181 The quantity of shipping and water-craft of every kind, employed..round our islands..would, perhaps, entitle us to the character of a maritime power.

1776 G. Washington Let. 8 Dec. in Papers (1997) Revolutionary War Ser. VII. 278 All the Boats and Water Craft should be secured or destroyed.

1838 S. Parker Jrnl. Tour beyond Rocky Mtns. i. 24 A great number of steam-boats and other water craft..are seen here.

1868 B. J. Lossing Hudson (new ed.) 203 A broad and beautiful bay, at all times animated with a variety of water-craft.

1916 R. Cullum Men who Wrought iv The object lying upon the table..was a ten-foot model of a strange-looking water craft.

1956 Mariner's Mirror 42 289 The earliest form of South American watercraft seems to be craft made of bundles of reed.

2012 Wall St. Jrnl. 4 Jan. a15/4 Iran has..thousands of small watercraft that could be used in swarm attacks, and antiship cruise missiles.