boatman
/'boutmən/
Definition
Noun: 1. A person who operates, steers, or is in charge of a small boat, especially for hire or transport. This refers to someone whose job or role involves navigating a boat, often on rivers, canals, or lakes. 2. A person who rows or sails a boat. This can also refer to someone skilled in handling small boats, not necessarily as a profession.
Examples
- The boatman skillfully navigated the narrow canal.
- We hired a boatman to take us across the lake to the island.
- The old boatman knew every current and bend in the river.
Advanced Usage
- "To play the boatman": This is an archaic or literary phrase meaning to take on the role of ferrying someone.
- In the myth, Charon plays the boatman for souls crossing the River Styx.
Variants and Related Words
- Boatmanship (noun): The skill of handling a boat.
- His excellent boatmanship ensured a safe journey.
- Ferryman (noun): A boatman who operates a ferry. This is a specific type of boatman.
- The ferryman transports passengers across the river every hour.
Synonyms
- Ferryman: A person who operates a ferry.
- Waterman: A person who works on or provides services from a boat (archaic/modern in specific contexts like the Thames).
- Oarsman: A person who rows a boat.
- Gondolier: A boatman who propels a gondola (specific to Venice).
Related Phrases
- Boatman's call: A distinctive cry or whistle used historically by boatmen to signal their presence or services.
Related Idioms
- "Like a boatman without an oar": To be helpless or without the necessary means to proceed.
- After losing the contract, he felt like a boatman without an oar.
Noun
-
someone who drives or rides in a boat
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