a. (Stress equal or variable.) Having a flat bottom: chiefly of a boat.
1582. N. Lichefield, trans. Castenheda’s Conq. E. Ind., xiii. 33 b. They [ships] haue no quiell, but are flat bottomed.
1692. Lond. Gaz., No. 2797/3. Our Mortar-pieces are … put upon flat-bottom’d Boats.
1810. C. James, Milit. Dict., Flat-bottomed boats … are made to swim in shallow water, and to carry a great number of troops, artillery, ammunition, etc.
1836. Vignoles, 20 May, in Life (1889), 200. Agreed with Mr. Gibbs to adopt my flat-bottomed form of rails for the Croydon line.
