pontoon

1 of 2

noun (1)

pon·​toon pän-ˈtün 

1

: a flat-bottomed boat (such as a lighter)

especially : a flat-bottomed boat or portable float used in building a floating temporary bridge

2

: a float especially of a seaplane

pontoon

2 of 2

noun (2)

British

: blackjack sense 1

Examples of pontoon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The 107-year-old restaurant accommodates parking for ATVs, golf carts, and pontoon boats in equal measure. —Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2024

Often suction dredge miners use floating pontoon boats with a compressor and dive using air breathing kits similar to equipment scuba divers would use. —Clark Corbin, Idaho Statesman, 9 July 2024

The trio visited Red Lane Spa, sailed on a bamboo pontoon down the Martha Brae River and dined at the Jamaican restaurant Miss T's Kitchen. —Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 28 June 2024

Rent a pontoon boat to or take out a kayak on the waterways to see the area's unique rock formations from the water. —Jordyn Noennig, Journal Sentinel, 28 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

French ponton, from Old French, from Latin ponton-, ponto

Noun (2)

perhaps alteration of vingt-et-un

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1676, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

circa 1917, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing pontoon

• pontoon bridge
• pontoon plane

Kids Definition

pontoon

noun

pon·​toon

pän-ˈtün

1

: a flat-bottomed boat

2

: a float used in building a floating bridge

3

: a float of an airplane

Etymology

Noun

from French ponton "a floating bridge, punt," from Latin ponton-, ponto (same meaning), from pont-, pons "bridge" — related to punt entry 1