thumb|Barchetta near the Ponte Umbertino
Barchetta () is an Italian word commonly translated into English as "little boat". The term originally referred to a small skiff used for recreational purposes. It is also applied to some items of clothing, as well as being used in automobile styling, where it describes a class of open-top, two-seat sports cars.
Etymology
thumb|Barchetta Station, Volpajola
Italian
The root of barchetta is barca, the Italian word for "boat". In Italian "small boat" would be piccola barca.
The use of the diminutive suffix -etta, the feminine form of -etto, confers the sense of something small or tiny with a connotation of endearment or affection towards the object.
The plural form of barchetta is barchette.
French
In French the equivalent term is barquette. The root word barque, which in French refers to a boat with three or more masts, is combined with the diminutive suffix -ette. In common use, barquette may refer to a shallow container or tray. Its use when describing an automobile is similar to that of the Italian term.
Clothing
A cappello a barchetta refers to a military side cap similar to a bustina. It may also refer to an outmoded three-cornered hat somewhat similar to a tricorne with a less pronounced brim.
A tasca a barchetta or "barchetta pocket" refers to a breast pocket in a men's suit jacket or blazer cut and trimmed in the curved shape of a boat. Giovanni Canestrini, editor of the Italian sporting newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, applied the term to describe the new car's original bodystyle.