Sometimes pontoons are also used to support bridges and docks. The word stems from the Latin pontonem, "flat-bottomed boat," and its root pons, or "bridge."

How did pontoon get its name?

Coming from Minnesota, “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” Weeres desired a watercraft that would be able to support his family out on the lake. He tied a wooden deck on top of two steel barrels and thus, the pontoon boat was born. Weeres' pontoon boat, was a simple floating platform—no bells and whistles.

Is pontoon the same as 21?

Pontoon is the British version of the internationally popular banking game Twenty-one, perhaps now best known in the form of the American Casino version Blackjack. The game Pontoon and its name are derived from the French Vingt-et-un (21).