pontonier

American

[pon-tn-eer] / ˌpɒn tnˈɪər /

noun

Military.

an officer or soldier in charge of bridge equipment or the construction of pontoon bridges.

pontonier British

/ ˌpɒntəˈnɪə /

noun

obsolete military a person in charge of or involved in building a pontoon bridge

"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 pontonier

From the French word pontonnier, dating back to 1820–30. See pontoon ¹, -ier ²

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.

Pontonier′, Pontonnier′, one who has charge of a pontoon; Pontoon′-bridge, a platform or roadway supported upon pontoons.

From Project Gutenberg

"He is a dragoon, a voltigeur, an artillerist, a pontonièr—what you will—he knows every thing, as I know my horse's saddle, and cloak-bag."

From Project Gutenberg

"Long live General Eblé!" cried the pontonier.

From Project Gutenberg

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