put-put

or putt-putt

[ puht-puht, -puht ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

the sound made by a small internal-combustion engine or imitative of its operation.
Informal. a small internal-combustion engine, or something, as a boat or model airplane, equipped with one:
the sound of distant put-puts on the lake.

, put-put·ted, put-put·ting.

Informal. to operate with sounds suggesting a put-put, as a small motor or motor-driven device.

put-put

/ ˈpʌtˌpʌt /

Origin of put-put¹

First recorded in 1900–05; imitative

Madge was closing the doors for the night when she heard the faint put-put of a motor boat, far out on the lake.

Before Grandpa Davis had time to reply, there came the "put-put-put" which signals possible danger.

When Tom was within a few miles of his own boathouse he heard behind him the "put-put" of a motor craft.

Then he became aware of a faint and intermittent throb—put-put (pause) put (pause), put-put-put!

Pretty soon I heard the put-put of that scooter and along came the ice-cream man.

April 19, 2024tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

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