# boater

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈbəʊt.ə/ · frequency rank #85,047

## Definitions
1. Someone who travels by boat.
2. Synonym of boatman, particularly its captain.
3. A straw hat, very stiff, with a flat brim and crown.

## Etymology
From Middle English botere; equivalent to boat + -er. The use of the term for a straw hat stems from the fact that straw hats were the preferred head covering during sunny boat trips on canals and rivers.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/boater