This　paper　mainly　focus　on　presenting　a　newly-developed　meshless　numerical　scheme,　named　the　generalized　finite　difference　method　(GFDM),　to　efficiently　and　accurately　solve　the　improved　Boussinesq-type　equations　(BTEs).　Based　on　the　improved　BTEs,　the　wave　propagated　over　a　flat　or　irregular　bottom　topography　is　described　as　a　two-dimensional　horizontal　problem　with　nonlinear　water　waves.　The　GFDM　and　the　2nd-order　Runge-Kutta　method　(RKM)　were　employed　for　spatial　and　temporal　discretizations　for　this　problem,　respectively.　The　ramping　function　and　the　sponge　layer,　combing　in　this　proposed　scheme,　were　adopted　for　incident　and　outgoing　waves,　respectively.　As　one　of　domain-type　meshless　methods,　GFDM　can　improve　the　numerical　efficiency　due　to　avoiding　time-consuming　meshing　generation　and　numerical　quadrature.　Furthermore,　the　partial　derivatives　of　Boussinesq　equations　can　be　transformed　as　linear　combinations　of　nearby　function　values　by　the　moving-least-squares　method　of　the　GFDM,　simplifying　the　numerical　procedures.　Specifically,　GFDM　is　suitable　for　complex　fluid　field　with　some　irregular　boundaries　because　of　the　flexible　distribution　of　nodes.　Four　numerical　examples　were　selected　to　verify　the　accuracy　and　applicability　in　the　improved　BTEs　of　the　proposed　meshless　scheme.　The　results　were　compared　with　other　numerical　predictions　and　experimental　observations　and　good　agreements　were　depicted.　©　2020　Elsevier　Ltd