bateau
[ba-toh; French ba-toh]
- Also batteau. Nautical.
- Chiefly Canadian and Southern U.S..a small, flat-bottomed rowboat used on rivers.
- a half-decked, sloop-rigged boat used for fishing on Chesapeake Bay; skipjack.
- (in some regions) a scow.
- a pontoon of a floating bridge.
Origin of bateau
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for bateau
Historical Examples
Craig leaped from the bow of the bateau and waded for the last few yards.
Joan of Arc of the North WoodsHolman Day
When he reached the far shore he jumped into a bateau that was pulled up there.
Joan of Arc of the North WoodsHolman Day
They stopped on the bank of the river, where the bateau lay.
Hope and HaveOliver Optic
As the bateau proceeded, Fanny became more skilful in its management.
Hope and HaveOliver Optic
Two of our boats were bateau, and the other was Mr. Gracewood's barge.
Field and ForestOliver Optic
bateau
- a light flat-bottomed boat used on rivers in Canada and the northern US
Word Origin
C18: from French: boat, from Old French batel, from Old English bāt; see boat
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for bateau
n.
French-Canadian river boat, 1711, from French bateau, from Old French batel, from Germanic (see boat (n.)).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper