Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993.
ship 2, boat (nn.)
Distinctions between these two are largely unheeded in general use, except that ships are generally understood to be larger than boats. Naval and other nautical people usually insist on more technical distinctions, however: a ship carries boats—lifeboats, barges, and other small craft—and every specific type of vessel is classed as either ship or boat. (Among sail-driven vessels, a ship is ship-rigged: square-rigged on all of its three or more masts.)
