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Glite Dictionary
surfboat

surfboat

6.7
A strong boat made to go through heavy waves to save people
  • noun
  • /ˈsɜrfˌboʊt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : bote de rescate
  • The rescue team quickly launched their surfboat to help the stranded sailors caught in the rough waves.

Examples

  • The experienced lifeguard skillfully maneuvered the surfboat through the turbulent water to reach those in distress.

  • During the storm, the surfboat was essential for safely reaching the beach despite the crashing surf.

  • The government was then too poor to have built a proper harbor in Monrovia, so the prospectors had to come ashore in a tiny, unstable surfboat.

    Academic text (2010)

Synonyms

lifeboat
vssurfboat
72 1.5

A strong boat kept on a ship or on the shore to save people in danger at sea

is built to be launched through heavy surf for nearshore rescue work

How Sturdy

surfboat
  • Specialized
6.7
lifeboat
72 1.5

Surface Forms

surfboat singular
surfboats plural

Morphology

surfboat = surf + boat (transparent) = surf + boat

Straightforward compound 'surf' + 'boat' meaning a boat designed for use in breaking waves; the meaning is directly inferable.

Etymology

Surfboat is simply the parts surf and boat, where surf means 'breaking sea waves' (as in surfing) and boat means 'small ship'. That's why a surfboat is a boat made to go through strong waves from the shore, often to help with rescues.