airboat

American  

[air-boht] / ˈɛərˌboʊt /

noun

1. Also called swamp boat.  a small open boat having a very shallow draft and driven by a caged airplane propeller mounted above the rear transom, capable of traveling at relatively high speeds through shallow water, swamps, etc.

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verb (used without object)

1. to go or travel in an airboat.

airboat British  

/ ˈɛəˌbəʊt /

noun

1. another name for swamp boat

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Etymology

Origin of airboat

1865–70, for an earlier sense; air(craft) + boat

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

airboat

Firefighters aboard an airboat rescued the men about 15 minutes later, according to the sheriff’s office.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026

Several US outlets have reported a statement from his lawyers which says that Peters was "following the instructions of a licensed airboat guide", and that "no animals or people were harmed" during the incident.

From BBC ● May 7, 2026

This time, we went with a private airboat through Viator, and wow—the experience was incredible.

From Salon ● Feb. 2, 2026

Deputies and personnel from local fire departments took an airboat onto the lake, finding the missing man and the ATV 4 to 5 feet underwater at 3:22 a.m.

From Washington Times ● Dec. 23, 2023

Although the airboat was very fast, the ride across the shallows was like gliding on silk.

From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen