water boatman

American  

noun

1. any of numerous aquatic insects of the family Corixidae, having paddlelike hind legs.

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water boatman British  

noun

1. any of various aquatic bugs of the families Notonectidae and Corixidae, having a flattened body and oarlike hind legs, adapted for swimming

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Etymology

Origin of water boatman

First recorded in 1805–15

Example Sentences

The piece features hundreds of sounds, but his favorite is the noise of the insect known as the water boatman in the moor’s pond, said to be the loudest animal relative to its body size.

From New York Times

She and her sister, Cassidy, 7, had found a damselfly and a water boatman in one of the shallow pools.

From New York Times

Called also boat fly, boat insect, boatman, and water boatman.

From Project Gutenberg

Wetsuit is so buoyant – feel like a giant water boatman insect, skittering sideways.

From The Guardian

And relative to its body, the little water boatman made the biggest racket, maxing out at 99 decibels.

From Scientific American