Large sailboats or motorboats built for pleasure, racing, or luxury travel, usually owned by wealthy people.
From Dutch 'jacht,' originally meaning a hunting vessel. The word traveled through European languages (German 'Jacht') as ocean exploration and leisure sailing became fashionable in the 1600s.
The original yachts were Dutch naval vessels used for chasing pirates—the leisure yacht is actually derived from a warship, making recreational boating a left-over from naval history.
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