A fast, light sailing vessel used in medieval and early modern times, particularly by pirates and coastal traders in the Mediterranean and Atlantic.
From Old French 'balinger,' possibly related to 'baline' or from Basque origins, with uncertain ultimate etymology representing maritime technology of late medieval Europe.
Balingers were the speedboats of the medieval world—small enough to hide in coves but fast enough to catch merchant ships, making them the preferred vessel of Mediterranean pirates.
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