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pontoon. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
pontoon, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
pontoon in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
pontoon you have here. The definition of the word
pontoon will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
pontoon, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
Borrowed from Middle French ponton, from Old French ponton, from Latin pontō, pontōnem (“ferryboat”), from pōns (“bridge”).
Noun
pontoon (plural pontoons)
- A flat-bottomed boat or other floating structure used as a buoyant support for a temporary bridge, dock or landing stage.
- (by extension) A bridge with floating supports.
- Synonym: pontoon bridge
- A box used to raise a sunken vessel.
- A float of a seaplane.
- A lighter or barge used for loading or unloading ships.
Derived terms
Translations
buoyant support for a temporary bridge, dock or landing stage
box used to raise a sunken vessel
Etymology 2
Probably from vingt-un, an obsolete variant of vingt-et-un (“twenty-one”), from French.
Noun
pontoon (uncountable)
- (card games) A card game in which the object is to obtain cards whose value adds up to, or nearly to, 21 but not exceed it.
- Synonym: vingt-et-un
See also