Bark (or Barque): A sailing vessel with three or more masts, where the foremast and mainmast are square-rigged, while the aft (mizzen) mast is rigged fore-and-aft. This configuration allowed barks to combine the power and speed of square sails with the maneuverability of fore-and-aft sails, making them well-suited for long voyages, especially in trade and exploration. Barks were common in the 18th and 19th centuries, and shipwrecks of barks often reveal their distinct rigging structures, providing insight into historic transoceanic trade.
