: a man who works on, deals in, or operates boats

Examples of boatman in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In 1693, Antoine Theroux, an impoverished 18-year-old boatman, was recruited to defend New France, as Canada was then known, against the Indigenous tribes and the British for King Louis XIV. — Heller McAlpin, Christian Science Monitor, 23 Sep. 2026 Jimmy rubbed beer foam off his mustache, and Kath thought of the drunken Norwegian boatman who sank Fanny’s ship. — Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026 In Elk Horn, Fjord Fǽrgemand, a 22-foot wooden troll boatman, towered outside the Museum of Danish America. — Nick El Hajj, Des Moines Register, 25 July 2026 Set in a conservative fishing village in Kuala Terengganu, the film follows a boatman struggling with addiction and a batik artisan whose lives intersect after an unplanned pregnancy. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for boatman

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of boatman was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Boatman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boatman. Accessed 30 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

: a person who manages, works on, or deals in boats
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster