Boat

Boat
Recorded in the spellings of Boat, Boate, Bote, Boater, Booter, Boother, Boatman, and Bowater, this is a medieval English surname. Its origins are confused and overlapping, and there are several possible sources. The first is that it can be either be topographical for someone who lived at a "both". This was the Olde English barn or cow shed later called a Booth, and found in that popular surname, or it may describe some on who lived on a river bank. In this case it is from a "fused" form of the pre 7th century "bufan-waeter", meaning "above the water". Secondly it can be occupational for either a builder of "boths", or a ferryman or perhaps a boat builder, from "bote", and where appropriate with the agent suffix "-er" meaning one who does, or "-man", which can mean friend or foreman. Both topographical and occupational surnames were among the earliest created, as the activities of man and the natural features in the landscape provided easily recognisable distinguishing names, although occupational surnames did not usually become hereditary until a son of sometimes a grandson, followed the father into the same job. Early examples of the recordings include Jeffrey Boteman, the rector of Wood Norton, in the county of Norfolk in the year 1320, whilst John Boatman was the dean of Norwich in 1654. Other early recordings include the marriage of Thomas Bowater and Jane Ley at Tamworth, Staffordshire, on June 15th 1589; the christening of Dorothy Boat at St Mary Whitechapel, Stepney, on March 11th 1670, and the christening of Mary Boater at St. Martins in the Field, Westminster, on April 18th 1784. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop", often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • Boat — (b[=o]t), n. [OE. boot, bat, AS. b[=a]t; akin to Icel. b[=a]tr, Sw. b[*a]t, Dan. baad, D. & G. boot. Cf. {Bateau}.] [1913 Webster] 1. A small open vessel, or water craft, usually moved by cars or paddles, but often by a sail. [1913 Webster] Note …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • boat — W2S1 [bəut US bout] n [: Old English; Origin: bat] 1.) a vehicle that travels across water ▪ If we had a boat, we could row across to the island. ▪ a fishing boat on/in a boat ▪ MacKay said he would sleep on his boat. by boat ▪ …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • boat — [bōt] n. [ME bot < OE bat (akin to Ger & Du boot) < IE base * bheid , to split (in the sense “hollowed out tree trunk”) > FISSION] 1. a small, open water vehicle propelled by oars, sails, engine, etc. 2. a large such vehicle for use in… …   English World dictionary

  • boat — ► NOUN 1) a vessel for travelling on water. 2) a boat shaped serving dish for sauce or gravy. ► VERB ▪ travel in a boat for pleasure. ● be in the same boat Cf. ↑be in the same boat ● …   English terms dictionary

  • boat — [ bout ] noun count *** 1. ) a small vehicle that people use for traveling on water. Boats are usually smaller than ships, and are moved by means of sails, OARS, or motors: by boat: The only way to get there was by boat. => POWERBOAT, ROWBOAT …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Boat — (b[=o]t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Boated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Boating}.] 1. To transport in a boat; as, to boat goods. [1913 Webster] 2. To place in a boat; as, to boat oars. [1913 Webster] {To boat the oars}. See under {Oar}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • boat — boat, vessel, ship, craft are comparable when they denote a floating structure designed to carry persons or goods over water. Boat is sometimes used as a general designation of such a structure but more specifically it is applicable to a small,… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • boat — (n.) O.E. bat boat, ship, vessel, from P.Gmc. *bait (Cf. O.N. batr, Du. boot, Ger. Boot), possibly from PIE root *bheid to split (see FISSURE (Cf. fissure)), with the sense of making a boat by hollowing out a tree trunk; or it may be an extension …   Etymology dictionary

  • Boat — Boat, v. i. To go or row in a boat. [1913 Webster] I boated over, ran my craft aground. Tennyson. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • boat — A boat is a ‘small vessel propelled on water’ by various means, and includes vessels used for fishing, for cargo, or to carry passengers. A ship is a large sea going vessel, especially when part of a navy. A submarine, however, despite its… …   Modern English usage

  • BOAT/US — Boat Owners Association of the United States (Governmental » Transportation) …   Abbreviations dictionary

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