Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
carranca
noun
/kaˈɾɐ̃kɐ/
Definition
A figure or ornament carved or painted on the bow of a boat, often meant to scare away evil spirits.
Examples
- The fishermen painted a colorful carranca on the bow of their boat to protect themselves during storms.
- Historically, old ships would feature intricate carrancas to ward off misfortune at sea.
Meaning
In Portuguese, ‘carranca’ refers to a decorative face or mask typically found on ships, mainly used to evoke fear or superstition about the dangers of the sea.
Synonyms
- figurehead
- mask
- ornament