Boat
/boʊt/noun
A small to medium vessel for traveling on water.
Did you know?Boat is an ancient Germanic word, and its deep root likely spread into other seafaring terms across the Germanic languages long before modern English ever existed.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*baitaz / *batą
“A boat, vessel, or small craft used on water”
Old English
OE
bāt
“A boat or small vessel”
Old Norse
ON
bátr
“A boat, vessel”
Middle English
ME
boot / boat
“A boat, ship, or small vessel”
Modern English
English
boat
“A vessel for traveling on water”