caballito

noun

ca·​ba·​lli·​to

ˌkabəˈyē(ˌ)tō

plural -s

: a small fishing boat made of reeds and used off the coast of Peru

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish short for caballito del mar, literally, little sea horse, from caballito (diminutive of caballo horse) + del mar of the sea

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above

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