sampan
UK[ˈsampan]US[ˈsæmˌpæn]
n
a small flat-bottomed boat used along the coasts and rivers of China and Southeast Asia, typically propelled by a single oar or scull over the stern.
Etymology
The word 'sampan' is a direct borrowing into English from the Cantonese pronunciation of the Chinese term 三板 (saam1 baan2), which literally means "three boards." This name reflects the simple, traditional construction of these boats from three main planks of wood. The term was carried into European languages by Portuguese and Dutch traders in the 16th and 17th centuries during their maritime explorations in Asia. In English, it has retained its original form and refers specifically to the iconic small, flat-bottomed working boat common in East Asian waters.
Analysis
This is a simplex loanword. It entered English as a single, unanalyzed unit from a foreign language.
Examples
The fisherman navigated the narrow canal in his wooden sampan.
Goods were ferried from the merchant ship to the shore using a fleet of sampans.
A characteristic feature of the harbor was the many sampans bobbing on the water.