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Bit of relevant trivia - in a number of languages other than English, "canoe" means both the style of boat we call a canoe in English and the thing we call a kayak. To distinguish the two, the one we call simply a "canoe" is called in those languages a "Canadian canoe" or "Canadian" for short.

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This is also broadly true in Ireland, (and I presume the UK). Among non-canoeists, 'canoe' can refer to a canoe or kayak, and people refer to "Canadian canoes" when they want to specify an open legged canoe.

(Although sit on top kayaks are usually called as such, confusingly).

My father is Swedish and used to have a Canadian canoe. He would refer to the canoe by its name most of the time but sometimes he and my grandfather would refer to it as “kanadensaren” (“the Canadian” in Swedish), and I never knew why until now. Thank you!

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