Word meaning
Gondola
A long, narrow flat-bottomed boat traditionally used on the canals of Venice; also, by extension, a suspended passenger cabin.
Definition
In its primary Venetian sense, a gondola is a slender, ornate rowing boat steered by a gondolier. English later extended the word to other passenger carriers that hang or glide, such as ski-lift gondolas. On this site, puzzle context usually refers to the Venetian boat unless noted otherwise.
Pronunciation
/ˈɡɒndələ/ or /ˈɡɑːndələ/
Origin / etymology
From Italian gondola; earlier origin is uncertain, with proposals linking it to Venetian dialect forms. The Venetian boat sense is the oldest widely documented English meaning.
Example sentences
- A black gondola glided under the bridge at dusk.
- The ski resort’s gondola carries visitors up the mountain.
In Wordloom puzzles
This word appears in a published puzzle on this site. The connection below is based on our original editorial grouping, not on any third-party puzzle.
- Harbor Threads — Monday, October 19, 2026
Related words
- Vaporetto — A public waterbus used on the canals and lagoon of Venice, Italy.
References
- Merriam-Webster — gondola — Primary and extended senses