A cuddy is a small room or cupboard, particularly on a boat. Sometimes a cuddy refers to a small but cosy hut. The origin of the term is not clear. Cuddy was in use in colonial America as early as 1655. The term may derive from the Dutch ''kajuit'', meaning a small cabin, or from the French ''cahute'', meaning a hut.

Nautical uses

The term cuddy is used particularly in nautical contexts. In the 19th century it referred to a saloon cabin at the stern of immigrant ships, where wealthy immigrants could travel in greater comfort than the

steerage Steerage is a term for the lowest category of passenger accommodation in a ship. In the nineteenth and early twentieth century considerable numbers of persons travelled from their homeland to seek a new life elsewhere, in many cases North America ...

passengers below.John Wilson (2012
The voyage out - Cabin and steerage
Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Updated 13 July 2012. A cuddy boat is a boat with a small shelter cabin with maybe a small

head A head is the part of an organism which usually includes the ears, brain, forehead, cheeks, chin, eyes, nose, and mouth, each of which aid in various sensory functions such as sight, hearing, smell, and taste. Some very simple animals may ...

. It may have a small berth also. The cuddy on cuddy boats is usually not tall enough to stand in. Typical lengths of cuddy boats range from . The term "cuddy cabin", is still somewhat used (cuddy itself can mean cabin), and is a common term among small boaters. Cuddy boats are popular as recreational boats with people who want a little shelter and storage space but do not want to upgrade to a full cabin boat. Cuddy cabin fishing boats are also used as near-shore fishing boats.Spira, Jeff (2007
''Saltwater Angler's Guide to Southern California''
Wilderness Adventures Press, page 402. .

References

{{reflist, 32em Nautical terminology Boat types