The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Sampan \Sam"pan\, n. (Naut.)
   A Chinese boat from twelve to fifteen feet long, covered with
   a house, and sometimes used as a permanent habitation on the
   inland waters. [Written also sanpan.]
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

sampan
    n 1: an Asian skiff usually propelled by two oars