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Bateau

 - 2 dictionary results

ba⋅teau

[ba-toh; Fr. ba-toh]
–noun, plural -teaux [-tohz; Fr. -toh] .
1. Also, batteau. Nautical.
a. Chiefly Canadian and Southern U.S.. a small, flat-bottomed rowboat used on rivers.
b. a half-decked, sloop-rigged boat used for fishing on Chesapeake Bay; skipjack.
c. (in some regions) a scow.
2. a pontoon of a floating bridge.

Origin:
1705–15, Americanism; < F; OF batel, equiv. to bat (< OE bāt boat ) + -el dim. suffix < L -ellus; see -elle
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Bateau
ba·teau also bat·teau   (bā-tō')   
n.   pl. ba·teaux also bat·teaux (-tōz') Nautical
  1. Canada & New England A long, light, flatbottom boat with a sharply pointed bow and stern.

  2. South Atlantic & Gulf States A small, light, flatbottom rowboat.


[Canadian and Louisiana French, from French, boat, from Old French batel, from Old English bāt; see bheid- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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