punt
UK: pʌnt | US: pʌnt
n. 1. A long, flat-bottomed boat propelled by a pole.
n. 2. (Sports) A kick in which the ball is dropped and struck before it touches the ground.
vt. 1. To propel (a boat) by pushing with a pole against the bottom of a shallow body of water.
vt. 2. (Sports) To kick (a ball) after dropping it from the hands.
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The word "punt" traces back to Latin pontō, referring to a flat-bottomed boat used in shallow waters. This sense was borrowed into Old English (punt) and later extended metaphorically to describe a similar motion in sports (e.g., kicking a ball before it lands). The dual meanings—nautical and athletic—reflect the shared logic of a forceful, sweeping motion.
We rented a punt to explore the river in Cambridge.
The footballer executed a perfect punt down the field.
She learned to punt gracefully during her summer on the Thames.
The coach emphasized the importance of a high punt for better field position.
In ancient Rome, pontōnes were vital for transporting goods across marshes.