motorboat
UK[ˈməʊtəbəʊt]US[ˈmoʊtərboʊt]
n
A small, fast boat that is powered by a motor.
Morpheme Breakdown
motor
boat
motor
engine
boat
vessel
Etymology
The word 'motorboat' is a transparent 19th-century compound, directly combining two established English nouns to name a new technological invention. The first element, 'motor', originates from the Latin verb movere (to move), via the agent noun motor meaning "a mover." The second element, 'boat', has ancient Germanic roots, traceable to the Old English bāt. The compound's logic is perfectly literal: a "boat" propelled by a "motor," succinctly describing the vehicle's primary function and distinguishing it from sail or oar-powered vessels.
Analysis
Structure: motor (engine) + boat (vessel)
- motor: From Latin motor (mover), from movere (to move). A noun-forming element denoting a machine that imparts motion.
- boat: From Old English bāt (boat, ship, vessel). A noun-forming element denoting a small vessel for travel on water.
Examples
The sound of the motorboat faded as it sped across the lake.
They rented a motorboat for a day of fishing.
The harbor was filled with yachts and small motorboats.