The Collaborative International Dictionary
Boat bug \Boat" bug`\ (Zo["o]l.) An aquatic hemipterous insect of the genus Notonecta; -- so called from swimming on its back, which gives it the appearance of a little boat. Called also boat fly, boat insect, boatman, and water boatman.
Wiktionary
n. Any of various aquatic insects of the family ''(taxlink Corixidae family noshow=1)'' that have paddle-shaped hind legs used for swimming.
WordNet
n. carnivorous aquatic bug having paddle-like hind legs [syn: boat bug]
Wikipedia
Water boatman, as a type of aquatic insect can mean:
- Arctocorisa arguta, known as water boatmen in New Zealand
- Corixa punctata known as the lesser water boatman in the United Kingdom
- Corixidae known as water boatmen in the United States and Australia
- Notonecta glauca known as the greater water boatman in the United Kingdom (called the backswimmer in the United States)
- Sigara, also known as water boatmen in New Zealand
Usage examples of "water boatman".
The wheel kicked in my hands violently and my course was erratic, to say the least, and I went down the Grand Harbour doing a pretty good imitation of a water boatman, those jerky insects that run across the surface of ponds.
Ryan paused to look at a gigantic carp, rainbow scaled, as it broke the surface of the pond to snap at a skimming water boatman.