bateau

noun

ba·​teau ba-ˈtō 

variants or less commonly batteau

plural bateaux ba-ˈtō(z)  also batteaux

: any of various small craft

especially : a flat-bottomed boat with raked bow and stern and flaring sides

Examples of bateau in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At this moment, our two guides and the lumbermen who had rescued us from the log jam came bursting out of the guides’ cabin and rushed to the bateau. —Robeson Bailey, Outdoor Life, 11 June 2025

The velvet navy dress featured a bateau-neck and dramatic white sash, which billowed into a sweeping train. —Julia Teti, WWD, 2 Oct. 2024

On the first canvas, two women in straw hats navigate a bateau, or small boat, down a creek; on the second, a woman gazes out over the water, the reeds licking at the hem of her dress. —Latria Graham, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 May 2023

The model and reality television star wore an ivory minidress featuring a bateau neckline and three-quarter sleeves with a corset-like fit at the waist. —Carrie Wittmer, Glamour, 26 June 2023

Word History

Etymology

Canadian French, from French, from Old French batel, from Old English bāt boat — more at boat

First Known Use

1711, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bateau

• afterglow
• akimbo
• albino
• aliquot
• allegro
• amigo
• apropos
• audio
• bungalow
• calico
• calypso
• cameo