'kayak' originates from Greenlandic, specifically the word 'qajaq', where 'qa-' meant 'man' and '-jaq' meant 'boat'.

'qajaq' transformed into the Danish word 'kajak', and eventually became the modern English word 'kayak'.

Initially, it meant 'man's boat', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a small, narrow watercraft'.