gondola

2 definitions found

gondola - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Gondola \Gon"do*la\, n. [It., dim. of gonda a gondola; cf. LL.
     gandeia a kind of boat, Gr. ? a drinking vessel; said to be a
     Persian word; cf. F. gondole gondola, cup.]
     [1913 Webster]
     1. A long, narrow boat with a high prow and stern, used in
        the canals of Venice. A gondola is usually propelled by
        one or two oarsmen who stand facing the prow, or by
        poling. A gondola for passengers has a small open cabin
        amidships, for their protection against the sun or rain. A
        sumptuary law of Venice required that gondolas should be
        painted black, and they are customarily so painted now.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A flat-bottomed boat for freight. [U. S.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. A long platform car, either having no sides or with very
        low sides, used on railroads. [U. S.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. (A["e]ronautics) An elongated car under a dirigible.
        [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

gondola - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  gondola
      n 1: a low flat-bottomed freight car with fixed sides but no
           roof [syn: gondola car, gondola]
      2: long narrow flat-bottomed boat propelled by sculling;
         traditionally used on canals of Venice
      3: the compartment that is suspended from an airship and that
         carries personnel and the cargo and the power plant [syn:
         car, gondola]