A scow is a flat-bottomed boat with a boxy shape and square ends, designed for carrying heavy cargo in shallow water. Think of it as the pickup truck of boats: it's not built for speed or beauty, but for hauling stuff efficiently.

Scows are incredibly practical vessels. Because their bottoms are flat instead of pointed like most boats, they can float in water just a few feet deep without getting stuck. This makes them perfect for loading and unloading cargo near shore, or navigating rivers and harbors where the water isn't very deep. Construction crews use scows to transport gravel, sand, and building materials. Some scows are motorized, while others get pushed or towed by tugboats.

The word can also describe something that looks ungainly or clumsy, since scows aren't exactly graceful. If you saw one next to a sleek sailboat, you'd immediately understand why people sometimes call an awkward-looking boat a scow. But when you need to move tons of concrete across a harbor, grace doesn't matter nearly as much as getting the job done.