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boathouse

American

[boht-hous] / ˈboʊtˌhaʊs /

noun

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

Forestry Department to trim trees, brought in gang interventionists who joined in a peace march around the park, and confiscated stolen property, including shopping carts, and stored it in the abandoned boathouse.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 9, 2024

It was when I turned the corner on the boathouse and pulled the rake through a tangle of prickers that I saw something reflect the sun.

From "Red Kayak" by Priscilla Cummings

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