Mid 16th century; earliest use found in Thomas Hacket (fl. 1560–1590). Originally from Middle French, French †almadie, denoting various boats (1515 denoting a large African dugout canoe, 1558 denoting a bark boat used by Brazilian Indians, 1690 denoting an Indian boat with a square back; compare Middle French, French †almande kind of African barge) from Portuguese almadia from Arabic al-maʿdiya from al the + maʿdiya ferry, ferryboat from ʿadā to cross.