lifeboat
UK[ˈlaɪfˌbəʊt]US[ˈlaɪfˌboʊt]
n
A small boat carried on a ship for use in an emergency, such as when the ship is sinking.
n
A specially designed boat used for rescuing people who are in danger at sea.
Morpheme Breakdown
life
boat
life
living
boat
vessel
Etymology
The compound 'lifeboat' is a transparent and logical formation from two native English words of Germanic origin. The first element, 'life', carries its core meaning of existence and survival, while the second, 'boat', specifies the type of vessel. The term emerged in the late 18th century, directly naming its purpose: a boat whose explicit function is the preservation of life during maritime emergencies. Its formation follows the common Germanic compounding pattern where the first noun modifies the second, creating a new, specific concept from two general ones. The word's logic is immediately apparent, reflecting its practical and potentially life-saving role.
Analysis
Structure: life (living) + boat (vessel)
- life: From Old English 'līf', of Germanic origin, related to Dutch 'lijf' and German 'Leib'. It functions as a noun, meaning the condition that distinguishes living organisms.
- boat: From Old English 'bāt', of Germanic origin. It functions as a noun, meaning a small vessel for travelling on water.
Examples
The crew and passengers were ordered to board the lifeboats immediately.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution provides a 24-hour search and rescue service around the UK coast.
After the collision, the lifeboat was launched successfully despite the rough seas.