wherry

lauttavene

proomu A light ship used to navigate inland waterways.
A flat-bottomed vessel previously employed by British merchants, notably in East Anglia, sometimes converted into pleasure boats.
1789, w:Olaudah Equiano|Olaudah Equiano, w:The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano|The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano

Here I used to enjoy myself in playing about the bridge stairs, and often in the watermen's wherries, with other boys. On one of these occasions there was another boy with me in a wherry, and we went out into the current of the river: while we were there two more stout boys came to us in another wherry, and, abusing us for taking the boat, desired me to get into the other wherry-boat. Accordingly I went to get out of the wherry I was in; but just as I had got one of my feet into the other boat the boys shoved it off, so that I fell into the Thames; and, not being able to swim, I should unavoidably have been drowned, but for the assistance of some watermen who providentially came to my relief.

The river was astir early and late with barges, wherries, and craft of every description.