Etymology Map
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Scow

2 stages from Dutch to English.

Today it means a flat-bottomed boat for carrying freight

Where does the word "scow" come from? It comes from Dutch schouw, adopted directly into English (1660s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
schouw
Dutch · 1600s
"ferry boat"
a ferry boat, pushed with a pole
2
Stage 2 of 2
scow
American English · 1660s
"flat-bottomed barge"
borrowed from the Dutch of New Netherland
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Scow’s story begins in Dutch: schouw meant “ferry boat.” A ferry boat, pushed with a pole. It reached English by 1660s as scow. Borrowed from the Dutch of New Netherland. Today, scow means a flat-bottomed boat for carrying freight.