Also 7 caik, caic, caicche, 8 caick, 7, 9 kaik. [a. Fr. caïque, ad. Turkish kaik.]
1. A light boat or skiff propelled by one or more rowers, much used on the Bosporus.
1625. Purchas, Pilgrims, II. 1623. Hee keepeth the Caiks and, always steereth when the Great Turke goeth vpon the water whose Caikes are most rich and beautifull to behold.
1653. Greaves, Seraglio, 63. He … steers the Kings Kaik [marg. Barge].
1702. W. J., trans. Bruyn’s Voy. Levant, xi. 49. Caicks, Gondalos, and other smaller Wherries.
1812. Byron, Ch. Har., II. lxxxi. Glanced many a light caique along the foam.
1864. Lond. Rev., 28 May. There he found a solitary bontman, whom he hailed, and was soon seated in his kaik.
1884. J. Colborne, Hicks Pasha, 10. The Sultan going to mosque in a state caïque at Constantinople.
2. A Levantine sailing-vessel.
1666. Lond. Gaz., No. 95/2. Some Corsar Flutes belonging to Dulcigno … took a Caicche.
1852. Conybeare & H., St. Paul (1862), II. xxiii. 357. The Levantine caiques … preserve … the traditionary build and rig of ancient merchantmen.
1861. Geikie, E. Forbes, x. 306. A crazy Turkish caique, with an old Turk, a stout Arab, and two little boys, by way of crew.
Hence Caïquejee, caïkjee [Turkish], rower of a caïque.
1835. Willis, Pencillings, II. xlv. 53. The poorest caikjee might row his little bark under its threshold.
1864. Daily Tel., 24 Aug. His caïquejees can go close up to the ground with their flats and barges.
