showboat

[ shoh-boht ]

noun

1. a boat, especially a paddle-wheel steamer, used as a traveling theater.
2. Informal. show-off ( def 1 ).
3. a person, especially an athlete, who performs in an ostentatiously sensational manner calculated to draw attention; show-off.

verb (used without object)

1. to perform or behave in an outrageous or spectacular manner.

showboat

/ ˈʃəʊˌbəʊt /

noun

1. a paddle-wheel river steamer with a theatre and a repertory company

verb

1. intr to perform or behave in a showy and flamboyant way

Word History and Origins

Origin of showboat¹

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70; show + boat

Example Sentences

Then he told the story of the day he tried to sit in with the professionals at the Showboat Club in Philadelphia.

From The Daily Beast

Later—especially on The Last Waltz—Robbie became a bit of a showboat.

From The Daily Beast

Blvd. in the 1980s, and St. Charles Place (cost: $140) was razed for the Showboat Hotel, which opened in 1986.

From The Daily Beast

And here, in the spring of the year, the calliope could be heard far down the Ohio as the showboat steamed into view.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• alarm
• astonish
• daunt
• dazzle
• flabbergast
• frighten
• horrify
• impress
• intimidate
• scare
• startle
• stun
• stupefy
• terrify