Larking on an ark

Having a lark on your ark? What‘s a-waft on your watercraft? Whatever floats your boat! (Get my drift?)

Now that Memorial Day has passed, water sport season has opened in full force.  Perhaps you will load up the ark with friends and family—two by two--for some fun touring whatever body of water you have access to? Possibly you plan on taking the ark out for some water skiing? Do you have plans to gather your buds and head out fishing in your ark or check your trot lines? 

Depending on the purpose of your water adventures, you may own a canoe, a sail boat, a kayak, a motor boat, a party boat, a skiff, or even a tub. In South Louisiana, you may own a pirogue or a bateau. But an ark?!?

In a recent conversation regarding when the story of Noah and the Flood occurs in the Bible—Genesis, chapter 5—questions regarding why boats are not more commonly referred to as arks came up. After all, in the Old Testament, the vessel which Noah builds is not just a boat or a canoe or even a ferry, but an ark. So why are watercraft not more commonly called arks after the “archetype” of watercraft?

I have to insert a disclaimer before I continue. The word “ark” is translated from the original Hebrew, so the choice of the noun “ark” could be the translator’s choice.

That being said, I pulled out my ever-trusty Oxford English Dictionary for some insight. The first meaning listed for “ark” is “a chest, box, coffer, close basket, or similar receptacle.” More specifically, this meaning is the familiar one of the place where the tablets of holy law are housed, as in “the Ark of the Covenant.” 

“Ark” as in “Noah’s Ark” is defined as “the large covered floating vessel in which Noah was saved at the Deluge.” Therefore, the meaning metaphorically refers to a place of refuge. According to the OED, “ark” meaning “a ship, boat, or similar floating vessel” is a transferred meaning from that Biblical place of refuge. The American Heritage Dictionary ultimately defines “ark” as “a large, commodious boat.” 

None of this information truly answers why the word “ark” is not more commonly used for watercraft. Regardless, many of us who utilize watercraft—boats, canoes, kayaks, pirogues, bateaux, and such—do find refuge in our “arks” from the workaday world.

LAGNIAPPE: See my earlier blog entry “Travelin’” for a discussion of barks as another word for boat.