Davit vs. Derrick — What's the Difference?

A davit (pronounced "dayvit" or see Wiktionary) is any of various crane-like devices used on a ship for supporting, raising, and lowering equipment such as boats and anchors.Davit systems are most often used to lower an emergency lifeboat to the embarkation level to be boarded. The lifeboat davit has falls (now made of wire, historically of manila rope) that are used to lower the lifeboat into the water.

A derrick is a lifting device composed at minimum of one guyed mast, as in a gin pole, which may be articulated over a load by adjusting its guys. Most derricks have at least two components, either a guyed mast or self-supporting tower, and a boom hinged at its base to provide articulation, as in a stiffleg derrick.

A small crane that projects over the side of a ship and is used to hoist boats, anchors, and cargo.

A machine for hoisting and moving heavy objects, consisting of a movable boom equipped with cables and pulleys and connected to the base of an upright stationary beam.

(nautical) A spar formerly used on board of ships, as a crane to hoist the flukes of the anchor to the top of the bow, without injuring the sides of the ship.

A tall framework over a drilled hole, especially an oil well, used to support boring equipment or hoist and lower lengths of pipe.

A crane, often working in pairs and usually made of steel, used to lower things over an edge of a long drop off, such as lowering a maintenance trapeze down a building or launching a lifeboat over the side of a ship.

A device that is used for lifting and moving large objects.

A spar formerly used on board of ships, as a crane to hoist the flukes of the anchor to the top of the bow, without injuring the sides of the ship; - called also the fish davit.

A framework that is constructed over a mine or oil well for the purpose of boring or lowering pipes.

A crane-like device (usually one of a pair) for suspending or lowering equipment (as a lifeboat)

(obsolete) A hangman.

(transitive) To hoist with, or as if with, a derrick.

To remove (a pitcher).

A mast, spar, or tall frame, supported at the top by stays or guys, and usually pivoted at the base, with suitable tackle for hoisting heavy weights, such as stones in building.

The pyramidal structure or tower over a deep drill hole, such as that of an oil well (also called an oil derrick .

A framework erected over an oil well to allow drill tubes to be raised and lowered

A simple crane having lifting tackle slung from a boom