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Definition of flatboat

flatboat

/ˈflætˌboʊt/
flat · boat
Plural:flatboats
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flatboat Lexical Profile

flatboat Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

American A large, rectangular boat with a flat bottom and square ends, historically used to transport freight and passengers down shallow inland waterways.

Example

"Pioneers often loaded their families, livestock, and supplies onto a flatboat to journey down the Ohio River toward new settlements."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for flatboat

• Rhymes for flatboat

• Nearby Words

flat-headed snake
flatback sea turtle
flatback turtle
flatboat
flatbread
flatcar
flatfish

Word Origin & Etymology

A compound of 'flat' and 'boat', first recorded in American English in the mid-18th century. It specifically referred to the rudimentary timber vessels built for one-way journeys down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers during early westward expansion.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Flatboat. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/flatboat
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