sampan

American  

[sam-pan] / ˈsæm pæn /

noun

1. any of various small boats of East Asia, such as one propelled by a single scull over the stern and provided with a roofing of mats.

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sampan British  

/ ˈsæmpæn /

noun

1. any small skiff, widely used in the Orient, that is propelled by oars or a scull

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Etymology

Origin of sampan

First recorded in 1610–20; from Chinese sān bǎn “three-plank (boat)”

Example Sentences

For the first time, I could picture the legendary tropical city of Malayan sampans, Chinese street hawkers and British colonial languor.

From The Wall Street Journal

A short sampan ride takes visitors across an eddy of the Shan Pui River.

From New York Times

Excursions include visits to the city’s famous floating markets, bike trips and sampan boat tours.

From New York Times

A boat of American soldiers taking the protagonist, played by Martin Sheen, upriver stops to search a Vietnamese family’s sampan.

From New York Times

Most of the men who lived here were out fishing, some not far from the shore, poling their sampans through the shallow water.

From Literature