The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Wherry \Wher"ry\, n.; pl. Wherries. [Cf. Icel. hverfr shifty,
   crank, hverfa to turn, E. whirl, wharf.] (Naut.)
   (a) A passenger barge or lighter plying on rivers; also, a
       kind of light, half-decked vessel used in fishing. [Eng.]
   (b) A long, narrow, light boat, sharp at both ends, for fast
       rowing or sailing; esp., a racing boat rowed by one
       person with sculls.
       [1913 Webster]