noun
- small boats used to carry provisions and supplies to ships anchored in harbors
Usage: nautical; historical
Examples
- Bumboats surrounded the merchant vessel as soon as it dropped anchor.
- The sailors eagerly awaited the bumboats bringing fresh fruit and vegetables.
- Local vendors used bumboats to sell goods to ships in the harbor.
- The captain purchased supplies from several bumboats before setting sail.
- Bumboats were essential for resupplying ships during long voyages.
- The harbor was busy with bumboats ferrying goods to the anchored fleet.