Adjacent Words

Pontoon definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

PONTOON', n. [L. pons, a bridge, probably from the root of pono, to lay.]
1. A flat-bottomed boat, whose frame of wood is covered and lined with tin, or covered with copper; used in forming bridges over rivers for armies.
2. A lighter; a low flat vessel resembling a barge, furnished with cranes, capstans and other machinery; used in careening ships, chiefly in the Mediterranean.
Pontoon-bridge, is a bridge formed with pontoons, anchored or made fast in two lines, about five feet asunder.
Pontoon-Carriage, is made with two wheels only, and two long side pieces, whose fore ends are supported by timbers.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: (nautical) a floating structure (as a flat-bottomed boat) that serves as a dock or to support a bridge
2: a float supporting a seaplane

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: French ponton, from Old French, from Latin ponton-, ponto Date: 1690 1. a flat-bottomed boat (as a lighter); especially a flat-bottomed boat or portable float used in building a floating temporary bridge 2. a float especially of a seaplane II. noun Etymology: perhaps alteration of vingt-et-un Date: circa 1917 British blackjack 5

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. n. Brit. 1 a card-game in which players try to acquire cards with a face value totalling 21 and no more. 2 = NATURAL n. 4a. Etymology: prob. corrupt. 2. n. & v. --n. 1 a flat-bottomed boat. 2 each of several boats, hollow metal cylinders, etc., used to support a temporary bridge. 3 = CAISSON 1, 2. --v.tr. cross (a river) by means of pontoons. Etymology: F ponton f. L ponto -onis f. pons pontis bridge

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Pontoon Pon*toon", n. [F. ponton (cf. It. pontone), from L. ponto, -onis, fr. pons, pontis, a bridge, perhaps originally, a way, path: cf. Gr. ? path, Skr. path, pathi, panthan. Cf. Punt a boat.] 1. (Mil.) A wooden flat-bottomed boat, a metallic cylinder, or a frame covered with canvas, India rubber, etc., forming a portable float, used in building bridges quickly for the passage of troops. 2. (Naut.) A low, flat vessel, resembling a barge, furnished with cranes, capstans, and other machinery, used in careening ships, raising weights, drawing piles, etc., chiefly in the Mediterranean; a lighter. Pontoon bridge, a bridge formed with pontoons. Pontoon train, the carriages of the pontoons, and the materials they carry for making a pontoon bridge. Note: The French spelling ponton often appears in scientific works, but pontoon is more common form.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(pontoons) A pontoon is a floating platform, often one used to support a bridge. ...a pontoon bridge. N-COUNT