canoe

[ kuh-noo ]
/ kəˈnu /

noun

any of various slender, open boats, tapering to a point at both ends, propelled by paddles or sometimes sails and traditionally formed of light framework covered with bark, skins, or canvas, or formed from a dug-out or burned-out log or logs, and now usually made of aluminum, fiberglass, etc.
any of various small, primitive light boats.

verb (used without object), ca·noed, ca·noe·ing.

to paddle a canoe.
to go in a canoe.

verb (used with object), ca·noed, ca·noe·ing.

to transport or carry by canoe.

Idioms for canoe

    paddle one's own canoe, Informal.
    1. to handle one's own affairs; manage independently.
    2. to mind one's own business.

Origin of canoe

1545–55; < French < Spanish canoa < Arawak; replacing canoa < Spanish

OTHER WORDS FROM canoe

ca·noe·ist, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH canoe

barge boat canoe cruise ship sailboat ship yacht

British Dictionary definitions for paddle one's own canoe

canoe
/ (kəˈnuː) /

noun

a light narrow open boat, propelled by one or more paddles
NZ another word for waka (def. 1)
in the same canoe NZ of the same tribe

verb -noes, -noeing or -noed

to go in a canoe or transport by canoe

Derived forms of canoe

canoeing, noun canoeist, noun

Word Origin for canoe

C16: from Spanish canoa, of Carib origin

Idioms and Phrases with paddle one's own canoe (1 of 2)

paddle one's own canoe

Be independent and self-reliant, as in It's time Bill learned to paddle his own canoe. This idiom alludes to steering one's own boat. [c. 1800]

Idioms and Phrases with paddle one's own canoe (2 of 2)

canoe

see paddle one's own canoe.