I am not sure of the origin of the word "boat". However, I am pretty sure it derives from something that means "buoyant", or something like that :hmm:
However, for me, one thing is for sure, anything that does not drop like a rock and can remain buoyant, is a boat. I just say "U" before the word "Boat" to designate an old sub, for me the U stands for "Underwater".
U-boat = old subs
Boat = ships, sailboats…
Submarine = submarines, ROVs…
Anyway, I refer to it like that, but I will never call a modern submarine a U-boat, because nowadays, submarines are really sub-marines, in the past the sub was simply a boat designed to submerge for a short while. Now subs are designed to stay underwater as long as it can.:p
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