davit
/ˈdavɪt
/ /ˈdeɪvɪt/noun
A small crane on board a ship, especially one of a pair for suspending or lowering a lifeboat.The main points of interest on the three deck levels are the railings, lifeboat davits and companionways....
- These were flat-bottomed craft with a shallow draft, and were lowered from the davits of larger troop-carrying merchantmen, like lifeboats.
- The ship is lying on an even keel and swimming from the stern will take the diver under the lifeboat davits, past the galley and engine room doors and up the ladders to the chart room.
Origin
Late 15th century: from Old French daviot, diminutive of david, denoting a kind of carpenter's tool.