dory

Dory refers to several related concepts, most commonly a small, shallow-draft boat and a species of fish commonly called the John Dory. In nautical use, a dory is a lightweight, shallow-draft fishing boat with a flat bottom, high bow and stern, and wide, straight sides. Built mainly of wood, dories are designed to be easily launched and rowed with oars, and they were especially popular in New England and other coastal regions for day trips and inshore fishing. Typical lengths range from about 12 to 25 feet (3.7 to 7.6 meters). Dories are valued for stability and simple rigging, and many traditional designs remain in use or influence modern small boats.

The term dory is also associated with the John Dory, Zeus faber, a marine fish found in temperate waters of the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. The fish is laterally compressed and has a distinctive dark spot on its side; it is valued for its delicate flesh in culinary markets.

In popular culture, Dory is a fictional blue tang fish in Pixar animated films Finding Nemo (2003) and Finding Dory (2016). Voiced by Ellen DeGeneres, Dory is characterized by her friendly but memory-challenged personality and plays a key role in the protagonists’ journey.