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johnboat

American  
[jon-boht] / ˈdʒɒnˌboʊt /
Or john boat,

noun

  1. a light, square-ended, flat-bottomed skiff, used in shallow water.


Etymology

Origin of johnboat

1900–05, probably John (the given name) + boat; compare joeboat, name for the same type of craft

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.

Angela Goldman says life jackets were in the flat-bottomed johnboat seven people were aboard, but authorities believe none of them were wearing the floatation devices when it capsized Monday night on the White River.

From Washington Times • Sep. 3, 2019

We never saw another human, save a lone figure in a johnboat, sputtering north in the distance as the sun came out.

From The New Yorker • Apr. 13, 2015

I’ve been on the Zambezi River in a johnboat.

From Salon • Jul. 13, 2012

He lashed the line to a cleat on the flat-bottom johnboat and slammed the 88-horsepower outboard in reverse.

From New York Times • Dec. 16, 2011

The blue-green water of Snake Creek was pouring in over the transom, but nobody in the johnboat moved.

From "Flush" by Carl Hiaasen

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