Caïque

A caïque (Greek: καΐκι, kaiki, from Turkish: kayık[1]) is a traditional fishing boat usually found among the waters of the Ionian or Aegean Sea, and also a light skiff used on the Bosporus.

The caïque is also a typical case of positioning the widest beam far aft, with a long sharp bow.

Most caïques are painted white, to counter the powerful sun, with the strakes and topsides in vivid chromatic colors.

Of late they have become a short excursion vessel, and former fishermen make money from the summer tourist trade on the busy islands, such as Corfu (Kerkyra) and Mykonos.

Caïque is also the term for a light skiff or long, narrow rowboat used especially on the Bosporus, Turkey.

The size and grandeur of this type, adorned with imperial armorials and floral scrolls, was a reflection of his royal power.

From the French caïque, from the Italian caicco, from the Turkish kayık (the source of the word loaned into the Greek kaiki and ultimately the English word as well), from the Ottoman Turkish qayïq or qayïk), related to the Persian qayeq but ultimately from the Old Turkic qayghug and qayghuq.