steamer
/ˈstimɚ/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.36 in modern English
9
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A mode of transportation propelled by steam.
noun
A mode of transportation propelled by steam.
noun
Example Sentences
- "Her gunboat fleet alone is composed of one hundred and sixty-one small steamers, of the efficiency of which for war purports naval critics have formed a high estimate."
- "Every since the age of six Troy Belknap of New York had embarked for Europe every June on the fastest steamer of one of the most expensive lines. With his family he had descended at the dock from a large noiseless motor, had kissed his father good-bye, turned back to shake hands with the chauffeur (a particular friend), and trotted up the gang-plank behind his mother's maid, [...]"
- "The company also owned a small steamer, Lake of Shadows, which operated a service from Fahan to Rathmullan, on Lough Swilly."
- "But of all the dishes ever brought to table, nothing equals that of the "steamer." It is made by mincing the flesh of the kangaroo, and with it some pieces of pork or bacon. The animal has not any fat, or scarcely any, in its best season; when the meat is chopped up, it is thrown into a saucepan and covered over with the lid, and left to stew or steam gently by the fire-side: it is, from this method of cooking, called "steamer." [...] the flesh soon floats in its own rich gravy: it only requires pepper and salt to render it delicious. No one can tell what a steamer is, unless it has been tasted; it indeed affords an excellent repast, and it is surprising that the steamer, preserved in tins, has not yet been exported to England."
Etymology
From steam + -er. The steamer duck or steamer (sense 6.2) is apparently named for its resemblance to a paddle steamer when swimming rapidly. The feces sense comically evokes the idea of steaming hot food and probably reflects that fresh feces sometimes give off visible water vapor in cold outdoor conditions such as those encountered by hunters, campers, and soldiers.
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈstimɚ/
- British English: /ˈstiːmə/
Usage
- Obsolete
- British usage
- Slang
- Australian usage
- Countable
- Intransitive verb
- American usage
Inflected Forms
Derived Forms
Phrases
Synonyms
bender
binge
carouse
piss-up
male homosexual
prostitute's client
soft-shell clam
steamer clam
long-neck clam
mya arenaria