well-boat UK /ˈwɛlbəʊt/US /ˈwɛlˌboʊt/ noun1 •A fishing vessel designed to carry live fish in a tank or well.In our way we overtook a great Jonk that came from Palimbam, a Town on the Island Sumatra: [...] This Vessel was of the Chinese make, full of little Rooms or Partitions like our Well-boats, [...] — 1699 formswell boats · well-boats