boathouse

American

[boht-hous] / ˈboʊtˌhaʊs /

noun

plural

boathouses

a building or shed, usually built partly over water, for sheltering a boat or boats.

boathouse British

/ ˈbəʊtˌhaʊs /

noun

a shelter by the edge of a river, lake, etc, for housing boats

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of boathouse

First recorded in 1715–25; boat + house

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The 103-acre island comes with approved plans and permission to build a lodge and boathouse.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

“Expansive terraces, meditation gardens, and hidden courtyards evoke a world-class resort ambiance, while infinity pools and a private boathouse complete its coastal allure,” the description noted.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 14, 2026

It was those watchmen who came to the boathouse to report that they’d spotted a man in a waterproof jacket drag the Zodiac up the embankment.

From Slate • Jul. 22, 2025

“All the landscaping was gone. The boathouse was a mess. The bandstand was boarded up.”

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 9, 2024

Kendra went to the gazebo with the pier and found that the boathouse was locked.

From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023