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workboat

workboat

1 3.4
A strong boat built to carry goods, equipment, or people for tasks at sea
  • noun
  • /ˈwɜrkˌboʊt/
translation icon : barco de trabajo
  • The echoes of the last barbs had hardly faded when two figures stepped from behind the workboats and sprayed the deck with gunfire.

Examples

  • The Big Thoroughfare is crowded with workboats jockeying for a view of the show.

    Academic text (1994)
  • The roof served double duty as a parking lot for the inflatable workboats.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Ethan had built the workboat himself, and he knew she would do.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Happily, a workboat passing in the bayou threw her spotlight and then her chains on me.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • "No, mostly the watermen use motor-powered workboats for crabbing.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • P146: Gulls swooped, dogging a workboat on its way to dock.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • She saw a workboat unloading the day's catch and a family taking advantage of the balmy afternoon by splurging on ice cream sundaes at one of the little outdoor tables.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • The harbor was filled with workboats transporting goods to the nearby islands.

  • The fishermen repaired their nets on the deck of their sturdy workboat.

  • He used a workboat to carry equipment for the construction project along the river.

Synonyms

boat
vsworkboat
1.0

A small vehicle used on water to carry people, like a rowboat or motorboat

is focused on non-leisure practical tasks like carrying goods or equipment
vessel
vsworkboat
698 3.3

A large boat or ship used for travel on water

is more specific, naming boats used mainly for hands-on work and transport
ferry
vsworkboat
137 1.3

A boat or ship that carries people, cars, and goods across water on a regular schedule

is broader practical transport used also for construction or equipment movement
fishing boat
vsworkboat
32 1.1

A boat used for catching fish that often has a space to keep the fish alive

is practical too but covers many work roles beyond fishing specifically
tugboat
vsworkboat
19 2.6

A small strong boat that pushes or pulls large ships in harbours and rivers

focuses on a boat used for varied practical tasks like transport or maintenance
riverboat
vsworkboat
18 2.5

A boat that travels on a river, often used for tours or fun

focuses on practical work use rather than leisure or historic pleasure trips
longboat
vsworkboat
  • Archaic
5 7.0

A large boat carried on a ship to move people or goods between ship and shore

is a general practical craft used for many work tasks, not just ship transfers
watercraft
vsworkboat
4 3.9

A boat or ship that carries people and things on water

is a narrower practical category used specifically for work duties on water
ferryboat
vsworkboat
3 2.6

A boat that carries people and cars across water on a regular route

is used for practical work too but covers more varied tasks like maintenance
canal boat
vsworkboat
1 3.2

A long narrow boat that carries people or goods on canals

is a general work craft used for transporting goods or for maintenance
bumboat
vsworkboat
  • UK
1 9.9

A small boat that sells food and goods to ships at sea

is more general, covering many kinds of work transport and maintenance roles
wherry
vsworkboat
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A long narrow boat used on rivers to carry people or goods

is a general work craft used across water types for transport and work
packet boat
vsworkboat
  • Archaic
1 7.5

A boat that carries mail and sometimes people and goods on a regular route

is a more general practical craft used for varying transport and work needs
river boat
vsworkboat
1 2.9

A boat that carries people or goods along a river

is a general practical craft used on various waters for work and transport
narrowboat
vsworkboat
  • UK
6.8

A long, thin boat that travels on canals and carries people or goods

is a broader practical work craft used for many kinds of transport tasks
ship's boat
vsworkboat
  • Specialized
4.2

A small boat that a ship carries to move people between ship and shore

covers practical boats for many tasks like carrying goods or doing repairs
mailboat
vsworkboat
5.5

A boat that carries mail and small supplies to islands and remote places

is broader, covering routine transport and construction or maintenance tasks
fishboat
vsworkboat
2.8

A boat used for catching or carrying fish

is a wider practical craft used for many transport, construction, or service jobs
surfboat
vsworkboat
  • Specialized
6.7

A strong boat made to go through heavy waves to save people

is practical in general but not limited to rescue or surf operations
jolly boat
vsworkboat
  • Specialized
8.2

A small boat that a sailing ship keeps for the crew to move people or supplies

is a general term for many practical boats used beyond just ship chores

How Big

cargo ship
26 3.0
workboat
1 3.4
trawler
11 4.4
dinghy
18 4.8
skiff
15 7.7

Surface Forms

workboat singular
workboats plural

Morphology

workboat = work + boat (transparent) = work + boat

The meaning is directly derived from 'work' and 'boat', indicating a boat used for work-related purposes.

Etymology

Workboat is made from the two simple words work ('to do a job') and boat ('a small ship'). Think of a workboat as a 'workhorse' on the water — a strong boat built for hard jobs like carrying goods or equipment, not for fun.