bumboat

noun

bum·​boat ˈbəm-ˌbōt How to pronounce bumboat (audio)
: a boat that brings provisions and commodities for sale to larger ships in port or offshore

Word History

Etymology

probably from Low German bumboot, from bum tree + boot boat

First Known Use

1769, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bumboat was in 1769

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Cite this Entry

“Bumboat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bumboat. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.

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