regatta

noun

Etymology: From Italian (Venetian dialect) regatta (“contention for mastery”), from regattare (“compete, haggle, sell at retail”), possibly from ricattare; or from Italian regata (“boat race, regatta”), via Vulgar Latin *aurigata from Latin auriga.

1. A series of boat races, or sometimes a single race.

   “[…] many people living along the harbour front had boathouses and boats of their own, for regattas and water sports were one of Victoria's chief attractions.”

   “The novice eights race demonstrated one of the reasons UVa manages to be so good year after year; the UVa novs finished first and second in the event, while Clemson's novice crew, the surprise of the regatta, took third.”

2. A striped cotton fabric.