steamboat Gothic

noun

: an elaborately ornamented architectural style used in homes built in the middle 19th century in the Ohio and Mississippi river valleys

Word History

Etymology

from its use in homes of retired steamboat captains in imitation of the style of river steamboats

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of steamboat Gothic was in 1941

Dictionary Entries Near steamboat Gothic

steamboat

steamboat Gothic

steamboating

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Steamboat Gothic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steamboat%20Gothic. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

Copy Citation

Share

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of bildungsroman

See Definitions and Examples »

Test Your Vocabulary

Love It or Hate It

  • heart-fire
  • When asked about her blind date, Carol spoke for hours with vitriol.
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can with using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?

PLAY
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games