Sampan definitions and example sentences on Wordnik

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The tow-line of the sampan was then lengthened out to a hundred feet or more, and the yacht went ahead again, rounding the point, so that the peninsula lay between the steamer and her tow Then she went ahead again, and the result was that she pulled the sampan upon the point; and as she was flat-bottomed, there was no difficulty in doing so.

—Four Young Explorers or, Sight-Seeing in the Tropics

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Definitions (3)

American Heritage Dictionary (1)

noun A flatbottom Asian skiff usually propelled by two oars.

Century Dictionary

GNU Webster's 1913 (1)

WordNet (1)

Elsewhere on the web

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Examples (50)

"We'd better get it and clear out of here They resumed their sprint for the sampan, smashing their way through the jungle growth in a short cut across a little headland and reached the beach in short order Good!" — 005 - The Pirate of the Pacific
"They have a sort of thing they call a sampan in China," he said pleasantly. — Pilotage
Because the search revealed only fishing lines and rusty bait cans, the sampan was released after its occupants received a lecture from Chief Warrant Officer Tham regarding curfews. — Brown Waters, Black Berets
In front of every one of them was a flat boat--sampan; and one was seen which was large enough to have a roof of the same material as the house. — Four Young Explorers or, Sight-Seeing in the Tropics
The heads were all put in the sampan, and they made a full load for it. — Four Young Explorers or, Sight-Seeing in the Tropics