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Glite Dictionary
Boaty McBoatface

Boaty McBoatface

1 9.3
A funny name people give to a boat after a public vote
  • proper noun
  • Informal
: Boaty McBoatface
  • The humorous name Boaty McBoatface became famous after being suggested for a research vessel.

Examples

  • The ship was officially named Boaty McBoatface after a public vote.

  • Many other vehicles have been jokingly called Boaty McBoatface in tribute to the original.

  • Naming their canoe Boaty McBoatface always gets a laugh from friends.

  • Wow, it's Boaty McBoatface!

  • Look at Boaty McBoatface!

  • The announcement of the new scientific ship named Boaty McBoatface brought laughter to many.

  • Every time someone mentions Boaty McBoatface, it lightens the mood in the room.

Synonyms

Huginn
vsBoaty McBoatface
9.9

A name given to some ships and boats

is a playful publicly suggested name rather than a traditional choice
hirondelle
vsBoaty McBoatface
9.9

A name given to a boat or ship

is a humorous publicly suggested name rather than a formal choice
Pocahontas
vsBoaty McBoatface
7.7

A name used for ships, often in honor of the Native American woman

is a playful publicly suggested name rather than an honorific one
Tullibee
vsBoaty McBoatface
9.9

A United States Navy ship used for military service

is a playful publicly suggested name not tied to a single ship

Surface Forms

Boaty McBoatface main

Morphology

Boaty + McBoatface

The string clearly contains 'boat', so a learner who knows that word will infer it refers to a boat or boat's name; the diminutive '-y' and the compound 'Mc...face' give a playful, joking feel. However, the specific humorous meme origin and the pragmatic meaning 'a deliberately funny name' depend on cultural knowledge of the naming joke and are not fully predictable from the parts alone.

Etymology

Boaty McBoatface came from a 2016 public online vote in Britain, when someone jokingly put the silly words Boaty and McBoatface together and the name got a lot of attention online. That's why people now use 'Boaty McBoatface' as a funny name for a boat or other vehicle.