barque

A barque, sometimes spelled bark in American English, is a sailing vessel with three or more masts. The distinguishing rig is that the foremast and mainmast are square-rigged, while the aftmost mizzenmast carries a fore-and-aft rig. This combination sets barques apart from full-rigged ships, which have square sails on all masts, and from brigantines or schooners, which use different arrangements.

Barques were widely used from the 18th through the 19th centuries for long-distance cargo and passenger service. The rig offered a favorable balance of sailing performance and crew requirements, enabling large ships to operate with relatively smaller crews compared with full-rigged ships. The advent of steam and, later, motor-powered vessels reduced their prominence in commercial fleets, and many barques were retired, wrecked, or converted in the 20th century. Some, however, survived as training ships or as museum vessels and remain visible in historic sailings around the world.

In modern times, barques are largely associated with sail training and ceremonial yards, serving as educational platforms for cadets and enthusiasts and as ambassadors of maritime heritage. They are often four-masted examples, but three-masted barques are also encountered.

Etymology and synonyms: The term barque derives from the French barque, with related forms such as bark in American usage. The word traces to the Latin barca and related Germanic and Romance roots for a small ship or boat.

Notable surviving barques include large four-masted training ships used for international sail training programs, which continue to demonstrate traditional rigging and seamanship.