paddleboat

noun

pad·​dle·​boat ˈpa-dᵊl-ˌbōt How to pronounce paddleboat (audio)
1
: a boat propelled by one or more large paddle wheels typically powered by a steam engine
… a new sidewheel paddleboat of the sort that once carried New Yorkers on harbor and Hudson River tripsRichard F. Shepard
2
US : a small recreational boat powered by pedals that turn a paddle wheel
Paddleboats are curious vessels. They can be steered and they're powered by foot pedals so the effect is something like riding a bicycle on water.Daniel Chang

called also pedal boat, (British) pedalo

Examples of paddleboat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Visit the butterfly garden at the Texas Discovery Gardens, paddleboat with a view of the Ferris wheel or explore one of the fair's museums. Naheed Rajwani-Dharsi, Axios, 27 Sep. 2024 His wife had to rescue him on a paddleboat before taking him to the hospital. Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 14 Sep. 2024 Public feedback about the project sparked the idea to add a spot for people to access the water with paddleboats, Barron said. Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 7 June 2024 Look for the distinctive blue label featuring Willow Ware china, a paddleboat, magnolia blooms, and a flying pelican. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 31 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for paddleboat 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'paddleboat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of paddleboat was in 1832

Dictionary Entries Near paddleboat

Cite this Entry

“Paddleboat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paddleboat. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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