regatta

Definition

A series of boat races, or sometimes a single race.

Etymology

From Italian (Venetian dialect) regatta (“contention for mastery”), from regattare (“compete, haggle, sell at retail”), possibly from ricattare; or from Italian regata (“boat race, regatta”), via Vulgar Latin *aurigata from Latin auriga.

Example Sentences

• "[…] many people living along the harbour front had boathouses and boats of their own, for regattas and water sports were one of Victoria's chief attractions."
• "The novice eights race demonstrated one of the reasons UVa manages to be so good year after year; the UVa novs finished first and second in the event, while Clemson's novice crew, the surprise of the regatta, took third."