Pram (ship)

Drawing of a 17th century pram by Nicolaes Witsen.

A pram or pramm describes a type of shallow-draught flat-bottomed ship.

They were used in Europe during the 18th century, particularly in the Baltic Sea during the Great Northern War and Napoleonic Wars, as the pram's shallow draught allowed it to approach the shore. They typically carried 10-20 guns on one gun deck, and had either two or three masts. They were the kind of transport Napoleon would have used to cross the English channel.

"Pram" also refers to a small utility boat with a squarish rather than pointed bow. This type of pram provides a more efficient use of space than does a traditional skiff of the same size. The Mirror and Optimist sailboats are examples of this form.