xebec

The story

1. Arabic · derived fromشُبَّاك“fishing-net”
2. Italian · derived fromsciabecco
3. Catalan · derived fromxabec
4. Spanish · derived fromxabeque
5. French · derived fromchebec
6. English todayxebec

From French chebec, from Spanish xabeque or Catalan xabec or Italian sciabecco, from Arabic شُبَّاك (šubbāk, “fishing-net”). Not to confuse with the sambuq, an Indian-Sea vessel.

First known use, by meaning

• from mid 18th c. A small two-masted, and later three-masted, Mediterranean transport ship with an overhanging bow and stern.