Ba*teau" (?), n.; pl. Bateaux (#). [F. bateau, LL. batellus, fr. battus, batus, boa, which agrees with AS. bat boat: cf. W. bad boat. See Boat, n.]
A boat; esp. a flat-bottomed, clumsy boat used on the Canadian lakes and rivers.
[Written also, but less properly,
batteau.]
Bateau bridge, a floating bridge supported by bateaux.
© Webster 1913.