floatplane

English

A de Havilland Otter floatplane

Etymology

From float +‎ plane.

Noun

floatplane (plural floatplanes)

1. A seaplane that has floats for landing or taking off from the water.
   • 1989, Popular Aviation and Aeronautics, page 104:

     Many floatplanes are amphibious and, according to floatplane experts, even the ones that aren't have been operated in and out of grass airstrips in emergencies.

   • 2018, Marieke Nijkamp, Before I Let Go (→ISBN):

     I transfer to a small floatplane that will fly me northwest, to Lost Creek, where I’ll stay for the next five days, until another plane can bring me back here.