a light, flat-bottomed boat driven by a propeller revolving in the air
airboat in American English
(ˈɛərˌbout)
noun
1.
a small open boat having a very shallow draft and driven by a caged airplane propeller mounted above the rear transom, capable of traveling at relatively high speeds through shallow water, swamps, etc
intransitive verb
2.
to go or travel in an airboat
Word origin
[1865–70, for an earlier sense; air(craft) + boat]This word is first recorded in the period 1865–70. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: batting average, dunk, goulash, racism, steamroller
Examples of 'airboat' in a sentence
airboat
First up, the swamp, and a ride through it on an airboat.
The Sun (2016)
Take their gas-guzzling airboat out for the weekend.
Houston Chronicle (2010)
Or when an airboat flipped at 100mph, hurling me into an alligator-infested swamp.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
This was far more stirring than an airboat ride.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
On an airboat cruise through marsh, signs of the messy cleanup jumped out.
Chicago Sun-Times (2010)
Florida's wildlife - from alligators to manatees - is abundant and can be discovered by airboat, on horseback or on foot.
The Sun (2006)
A million people visit this area every year, usually by airboat, which roars across the marsh like a tiny hovercraft.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Then there's a boat tour, airboat adventure and chance to see more of the park's wildlife.
The Sun (2008)
You don't need to book a time as the airboat rides are every 15 minutes.
The Sun (2007)
We use the flat-bottomed airboat to get across the boom and close to the oiled marshes.