🌟 An attention-seeker 🚤 A boat performer

showboater

9.8

A performer on a traveling river boat who entertains people in towns along the river

noun
/ˈʃoʊˌboʊtər/

Archaic

: artista de espectáculo

The famous showboater captivated audiences as the boat traveled from town to town along the river.

Examples

In the early 1900s, a showboater was a star attraction in many small communities.
The famous showboater captivated audiences as the boat traveled from town to town along the river.
Many aspiring actors dreamed of becoming a showboater and performing on the Mississippi.
The showboater dazzled the audience with her singing.
He is a talented showboater who loves to perform.
In the early 1900s, a showboater was a star attraction in many small communities.
Many aspiring actors dreamed of becoming a showboater and performing on the Mississippi.

Synonyms

showman

vsshowboater

19 4.4

A man who entertains people at public shows or events

is specific to historical performers on traveling river vessels rather than general event organizers

showperson

vsshowboater

6.3

A person who gives exciting talks or performances to an audience

is specific to historical performers on traveling river vessels rather than presentation specialists

Surface Forms

showboater singular

showboaters plural

Morphology

showboater = showboat (transparent) = show + boat + er

The word is transparently formed by adding the agentive suffix '-er' to the compound 'showboat'.

Etymology

Showboater comes from showboat and the ending -er, where showboat was a river boat that had live shows and -er means 'person'. These were performers who traveled along rivers and entertained towns, so the word means 'a performer on a traveling river showboat'.