1. A light, flat-bottomed boat with sloping ends, used especially for transport on rivers and shallow waters.
Usage: Also spelled bateau or bateaux (plural).; Chiefly historical or regional.

Examples

• The explorers traveled down the river in a batteau loaded with supplies.
• Batteaux were commonly used by fur traders in North America during the colonial period.
• The shallow draft of a batteau made it ideal for navigating narrow waterways.
• They launched the batteau from the riverbank at dawn.