johnboat

noun

john·​boat ˈjän-ˌbōt How to pronounce johnboat (audio)
: a narrow flat-bottomed square-ended boat usually propelled by a pole or paddle and used on inland waterways

Examples of johnboat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Stanberry and her husband, and sometimes friends who like to come along, will brave the heat and bugs and hike out into the swamp, drive out to trails in a vehicle, take electric bikes or motor around in a johnboat looking for the invasive species. Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2025 On an aluminum johnboat, a good seat can make a world of difference. Max Inchausti, Field & Stream, 9 Jan. 2023 No matter if they were hauled in by a trawler, by a cast-netter knee-deep in a creek, or by a late-night baiter whose johnboat lantern is just one twinkle in a constellation of fellow shrimpers out on the inky harbor. Stephanie Hunt, Southern Living, 12 July 2020 From johnboats and small runabouts right down to kayaks, canoes, and even one-man pontoons and cata-rafts, there’s a rod holder that can turn any small boat into a fishing-catching machine. The Editors, Outdoor Life, 20 Nov. 2019 Brandon Dean Wilson, of Grayson, was driving a johnboat with his 6-year-old son Garrett on board about 10 p.m., Georgia Department of National Resources spokesman Mark McKinnon said. Erin Schilling, ajc, 11 July 2019

Word History

Etymology

from the name John

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of johnboat was in 1894

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Cite this Entry

“Johnboat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/johnboat. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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