A shallow-draft boat with a flat bottom, designed for carrying cargo or passengers on inland rivers and waterways.
Compound of 'flat' and 'boat,' originating in American English during the 18th century when such vessels became crucial for river commerce. The design was practical for navigating shallow rivers like the Mississippi.
Flatboats were the trucks of early America—pioneers and traders floated tons of cargo downriver, and some flatboats were actually disassembled and sold as lumber when they reached their destination!
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