A strong boat kept on a ship or near the coast to rescue people in danger on the water. It is designed not to sink easily and to stay upright in rough seas.
A compound of *life* and *boat*, first used in the 19th century as sea travel and shipping expanded. The name directly states its purpose: a boat for saving lives.
‘Lifeboat’ is one of those words where the purpose is built right into the name—it’s not just a boat, it’s a promise. That’s why we also use ‘lifeboat’ metaphorically for backup plans and emergency support systems.
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