carvel

Carvel is a term used in maritime contexts to describe a method of shipbuilding in which hull planks are laid edge to edge on a continuous frame, producing a smooth, watertight hull. This contrasts with clinker (lap-strake) construction, where planks overlap at the seams. The carvel method allows the use of larger timbers and longer planks, enabling a more streamlined hull that can be faired to a smooth surface.

Carvel construction became widely used in the Mediterranean and later in Northern Europe from the late medieval period onward, contributing to the development of ocean-going vessels such as caravels, carracks, and later sailing ships. It facilitated stronger hulls and easier caulking, though it required greater craftsmanship and time to build. By the 16th to 18th centuries, carvel-built hulls supported the expansion of European exploration and trade, and the method remained common in many shipyards well into the early modern era.

In other contexts, carvel is also a surname of English origin. The term appears in historical texts to describe ships built by this method and can occur in place names and genealogical records.

Carvel is also the name of a well-known American ice cream brand. Carvel Ice Cream was founded by Tom Carvel in 1934 in Haverstraw, New York, and operates a chain of stores offering soft-serve and novelty ice creams, cakes, and seasonal products.