pontoon
1[ pon-toon ]
/ pɒnˈtun /
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noun
Military. a boat or some other floating structure used as one of the supports for a temporary bridge over a river.
a float for a derrick, landing stage, etc.
Nautical. a float for raising a sunken or deeply laden vessel in the water; a camel or caisson.
a seaplane float.
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QUIZ YOURSELF ON “THEIR,” “THERE,” AND “THEY’RE”
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Question 1 of 7
Which one of these commonly confused words can act as an adverb or a pronoun?
Also pon·ton [pon-tn]. /ˈpɒn tn/.
Origin of pontoon
11585–95; <French ponton<Latin pontōn- (stem of pontō) flat-bottomed boat, punt
Words nearby pontoon
Definition for pontoon (2 of 2)
pontoon2
[ pon-toon ]
/ pɒnˈtun /
noun British.
the card game twenty-one.
Origin of pontoon
21915–20; alteration of French vingt-et-un twenty-one
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for pontoon
British Dictionary definitions for pontoon (1 of 2)
pontoon1
/ (pɒnˈtuːn) /
noun
- a watertight float or vessel used where buoyancy is required in water, as in supporting a bridge, in salvage work, or where a temporary or mobile structure is required in military operations
- (as modifier)a pontoon bridge
nautical a float, often inflatable, for raising a vessel in the water
Word Origin for pontoon
C17: from French ponton, from Latin pontō punt, floating bridge, from pōns bridge
British Dictionary definitions for pontoon (2 of 2)
pontoon2
/ (pɒnˈtuːn) /
noun
Also called: (esp US) twenty-one, vingt-et-un a gambling game in which players try to obtain card combinations worth 21 points
(in this game) the combination of an ace with a ten or court card when dealt to a player as his first two cards
Word Origin for pontoon
C20: probably an alteration of French vingt-et-un, literally: twenty-one
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