dreamboat meaning (dated): definition, etymology

dreamboat

noun

UK /ˈdɹiːmbəʊt/ · US /ˈdɹimˌboʊt/

Etymology From dream + boat, probably suggesting a person “carrying” or embodying the dreams of another; the term appeared in some 1930s and 1940s love songs, referring to a metaphorical boat carrying a lover’s dreams, such as “When My Dream Boat Comes Home” (1936) written by the Canadian-American bandleader Guy Lombardo (1902–1977) and “Someone’s Rocking My Dreamboat” (1941) by the American songwriters Otis (1898–1970) and Leon René (1902–1982), and Emerson Scott.

Dated, Humorous, Informal An exceptionally good-looking and sexually attractive person, particularly a man.

My new fella is such a dreamboat. He can dance, can sing, and is the captain of the school hockey team.

Archaic, Slang Anything considered highly desirable for its kind, especially a car.

My new car is a dreamboat.