Street
boat
What does boat mean?
The common shortened form of 'boat race', Cockney rhyming slang for face.
"You should have seen the boat on him when he heard the news."
Origin
Clip of 'boat race' ('race' rhymes with 'face').
Frequently asked questions
What does 'boat' mean in Cockney slang?
It means 'face'. It's the clipped form of 'boat race', which rhymes with face.
Why does 'boat' mean face?
The full rhyming slang is 'boat race' — 'race' rhymes with 'face' — and speakers shorten it to just 'boat'.
How is 'boat' used?
To talk about someone's face or expression, e.g. 'you should have seen the boat on him when he heard the news'.
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