What does rowboat mean?
A rowboat is a small boat moved through water by people using oars. The rowers usually sit in line, facing backward relative to the boat’s direction of travel, which allows their strokes to propel it efficiently. The word is especially associated with calm lakes, rivers, coastal waters, and recreational rowing, although rowboats have also been used for fishing, transport, and work. In American English, “rowboat” is a familiar everyday term; in British English, “rowing boat” is also common. A rowboat can be distinguished from a canoe or kayak by its arrangement for rowing with oars, though modern versions may use sliding seats and other specialized equipment. Its simple compound formation makes its meaning transparent: it is a boat designed for rowing.
nounA small, narrow boat propelled by oars. It is typically rowed by one or more people sitting facing backward, with their backs to the direction of travel.
- A small boat propelled by oars, usually by one or more people seated in line and facing backward.
"They rowed the rowboat across the quiet lake before breakfast."
"A rowboat was tied to the dock beside several fishing boats."
"The guide led the visitors through the wetlands in a rowboat."
The regular plural adds -s and is used when referring to more than one rowboat.
"Several rowboats were moored along the quiet shoreline."
The word is delightfully literal: a rowboat is a boat made to move by rowing, with its rowers’ backward-facing strokes turning the vessel forward.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does rowboat come from?
Rowboat is an English compound formed from “row,” in the sense of propelling a boat with oars, and “boat,” which comes from Old English bāt. The word developed as a plain descriptive term rather than through borrowing from another language. Its two elements have related Germanic counterparts: the English rowing vocabulary is broadly Germanic, while Dutch boot and German Boot are cognates of English “boat.”
Related word forms
How rowboat is actually used
The term is common in American English and is also used in British English, where “rowing boat” may be more frequent in general descriptions. It refers to the boat itself rather than the activity of rowing.