A boat powered by a motor or engine rather than sails or oars. Used for recreation, transportation, or commercial purposes on water.
Compound word combining 'motor' (from Latin 'movere', to move) and 'boat' (Old English 'bāt'). The term emerged in the early 1900s as internal combustion engines became practical for marine use.
The first motorboats were basically regular boats with engines awkwardly bolted on, but they revolutionized water travel by freeing boats from wind and current dependence. Interestingly, 'motorboating' also became slang for a particular sound or action, showing how technology terms often develop unexpected secondary meanings.
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