noun / verb

boat

BOHT/bəʊt/

A small vessel for traveling on water.

The small boat floats on calm water with its oars resting alongside.

A small open rowboat floating on calm water, shown in three-quarter view with its hollow hull, bench seats, and paired oars clearly visible.

Etymology

Old English bāt already named a small watercraft. Its deeper origin is uncertain; one suggestion connects it with splitting wood, perhaps to make a boat from a hollowed trunk or split planking.

In context

Scho and Jo, on the Water1:21

we might be buying a boat we didn't even know how it handled in the water but it met our three criteria it was in our budget it floated and it was relatively safe

From Zero to Gold, America’s Great Loop Documentary

More examples

We boated along the river after lunch.
Several small boats sheltered in the cove.
They are boating near the island today.

Forms

boat · boats · boated · boating

Similar words

vessel: More formal and includes much larger watercraft.
ship: Ship generally refers to a larger vessel.