boatman:

(plural: ‘boatmen’; pronunciation: ‘boat…man’)

a man who owns a small boat and lives by hiring it;

a person who works, rows, sails or repairs small boats for money,

a boatman with a lady

e.g.

George has been a boatman all through his life and now at the age of sixty-five he still works on his boat!

As travelling on boat has become out-dated, most boatmen have turned to smuggling to make a living, using their knowledge of canal and river systems to escape from the police and customs officers.

Tourists love boating as much as they love riding donkeys, and boatmen at lake side tourist spots make a lot of money entertaining them.

Note: ‘Boatman’ is used to refer to a water insect which is also called ‘water boatman’ or ‘water bug’ because it has oar-like hind/back legs with which it swims in water, like a boatman uses his oars to move his boat.
Compare: ferryman
Note: ‘Boatman’, always with a capital “B”, is often found in the names of people, e.g. Dave Boatman, Lawrence Boatman, etc.
For an interesting article on the Greek mythological boatman, please click here.

Return to “ferryman“.

About the Author:BC Kumar

BC Kumar, an English Language Teacher, taught in numerous countries including Ethiopia, Oman and India, shares his knowledge and passion for the English Language. Disclaimer: This is a free educational website and all content has been compiled by the author. All copyrights to images and videos belong to their respective owners.

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