pontoon, ponton

[Fr. ponton, from Ital. pontone a great, broad bridge; Lat. pons (gen it. pont is )=a bridge.] 1. Mil . Engin .: A floating ve el supporting the roadway timbers of a floating military bridge. They may be boats, water-tight cylinders of tin, or wooden frames covered with canvas, india-rubber, . IMG:content-1320.png:[blocks in formation] (1) [CAMEL, 8., II. 1.] (2) A water-tight structure which is sunk by filling with water, and raised by pumping it out, used to close a sluiceway or entrance to a dock. It works in grooves in the dock walls, and acts as a lock-gate. pontoon-bridge, ponton-bridge, s. Mil. Engin.: A temporary military bridge supported on pontoons. pontoon-train, ponton-train, s. Mil.: The complete equipment for the formation of a floating military bridge.