The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Gondola \Gon"do*la\, n. [It., dim. of gonda a gondola; cf. LL.
   gandeia a kind of boat, Gr. ? a drinking vessel; said to be a
   Persian word; cf. F. gondole gondola, cup.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. A long, narrow boat with a high prow and stern, used in
      the canals of Venice. A gondola is usually propelled by
      one or two oarsmen who stand facing the prow, or by
      poling. A gondola for passengers has a small open cabin
      amidships, for their protection against the sun or rain. A
      sumptuary law of Venice required that gondolas should be
      painted black, and they are customarily so painted now.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A flat-bottomed boat for freight. [U. S.]
      [1913 Webster]

   3. A long platform car, either having no sides or with very
      low sides, used on railroads. [U. S.]
      [1913 Webster]

   4. (A["e]ronautics) An elongated car under a dirigible.
      [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

gondola
    n 1: a low flat-bottomed freight car with fixed sides but no
         roof [syn: gondola car, gondola]
    2: long narrow flat-bottomed boat propelled by sculling;
       traditionally used on canals of Venice
    3: the compartment that is suspended from an airship and that
       carries personnel and the cargo and the power plant [syn:
       car, gondola]