sampan

[ sam-pan ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

any of various small boats of East Asia, such as one propelled by a single scull over the stern and provided with a roofing of mats.

sampan

/ ˈsæmpæn /

any small skiff, widely used in the Orient, that is propelled by oars or a scull

Origin of sampan¹

First recorded in 1610–20; from Chinese sān bǎn “three-plank (boat)”

Origin of sampan¹

C17: from Chinese san pan, from san three + pan board

The pirate reached for it, but at that moment the sampan went down and left him swirling in the water.

A half-hour later Peter Gross made out a small sampan, paddled by two Dyaks, approaching from the south.

After crossing the creek in a crazy sampan the party separated, each taking his own line of country.

She followed the hermit to the river side, where his small and leaky sampan was drawn up on the mud.

But at Yokohama, Blake hurried ashore in a sampan, met an agent who seemed to be awaiting him, and caught a train for Kobe.

April 25, 2024firkin

[fur-kin ]

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