steamer en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- /ˈstiːmə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- (Australia) audio
- /ˈstimɚ/ (General-American)
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.
Meanings
- A device or object that works by the operation of steam. ▸ A vessel in which articles are subjected to the action of steam, as in washing and in various processes of manufacture.
- A device or object that works by the operation of steam. ▸ A cooking appliance that cooks by steaming.
- (obsolete) A device or object that works by the operation of steam. ▸ A steam fire engine, that is, a steam boiler and engine driving a pump, which are all mounted on wheels.
- A mode of transportation propelled by steam. ▸ A steam-powered road locomotive; a traction engine.
-
A mode of transportation propelled by steam. ▸ A vessel propelled by steam; a steamboat or steamship.
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.
1859 January 6, “English and Amer[i]can navies”, in The Olney Times (reprinted from the New York Herald), volume 3, number 27 (number 130 overall), Olney, Ill.: William F. Beck, →OCLC, page 1, column 6Every 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, [...]
1918, Edith Wharton, chapter I, in The Marne, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC, page 1:The company also owned a small steamer, Lake of Shadows, which operated a service from Fahan to Rathmullan, on Lough Swilly.
1953 October, H. C. Casserley, “The Londonderry & Lough Swilly Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 708:
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(abbreviation, alt-of, clipping) Clipping of steamer trunk.
alt of steamer trunk
- A babycino (frothy milk drink).
- A wetsuit with long sleeves and legs.
- (Maine) The name of various animals. ▸ The soft-shell clam, sand gaper, or long-neck clam (Mya arenaria), an edible saltwater clam; specifically the clam when steamed for eating.
- The name of various animals. ▸ A steamer duck: any of the four species of the duck genus Tachyeres which are all found in South America, three of which are flightless.
- A racehorse the odds of which are becoming shorter (that is, decreasing) because bettors are backing it.
- (UK, slang) An act of fellatio.
- (UK, qualifier:crime, slang) A member of a youth gang who engages in steaming (robbing and escaping in a large group).
- (Scotland, UK, slang) A drinking session.
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(Australia, obsolete) A dish made by cooking diced meat very slowly in a tightly sealed pot with a minimum of flavourings, allowing it to steam in its own juices; specifically such a dish made with kangaroo meat.
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.
1851, Henry [Saxelby] Melville, chapter XII, in The Present State of Australia, including New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and New Zealand, with Practical Hints on Emigration; to which are Added the Land Regulations, and Description of the Aborigines and Their Habits, London: G. Willis, Great Piazza, Covent Garden, →OCLC, page 311:
- (in-plural, qualifier:Rhode Island) A steamed clam.
- (countable, slang) A lump of fresh feces: a fresh bowel movement.
- (qualifier:Memphis, slang) A stolen vehicle.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| steamers | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Cleveland steamer · excursion steamer · steamerload · double steamer · road steamer · steamer chair · tramp steamer · paddle steamer · screw steamer · steamerful · rice steamer · turbine steamer · war-steamer · food steamer · steamerless · turret steamer
Synonyms
binge (drinking session) · carouse (drinking session) · bender (drinking session) · piss-up (drinking session)
Translations (108)
pt locomotiva a vapor (traction engine, locomobile) · de Dampfkochtopf (cooking appliance) · luy estima (cooking appliance) · it vaporetto (vessel in which articles are subjected to the action of steam) · ru локомоби́ль (traction engine, locomobile) · de Dampfer (steamboat or steamship) · ar بَاخِرَة (steamboat or steamship) · th ถึง (cooking appliance) · de Dampftopf (cooking appliance) · fa بخارپز (cooking appliance) · kis stima (cooking appliance) · fr bateau à vapeur (steamboat or steamship) · pl silnik trakcyjny (traction engine, locomobile) · hu gőzölő (cooking appliance) · pt panela a vapor (cooking appliance) · ar قِدْر بُخَارِيّ (cooking appliance) · nn dampskip (steamboat or steamship) · cs lokomobila (traction engine, locomobile) · ru отпа́риватель (vessel in which articles are subjected to the action of steam) · fi lokomobiili (traction engine, locomobile) · uk пароплав (steamboat or steamship) · eo vaporŝipo (steamboat or steamship) · da dampskib (steamboat or steamship) · sh пароброд (steamboat or steamship) · mi tima (steamboat or steamship) · nl stoomboot (steamboat or steamship) · es vaporera (cooking appliance) · sh parobrod (steamboat or steamship) · fi höyrypesuri (vessel in which articles are subjected to the action of steam) · th ซึ้ง (cooking appliance) · hu gőzhajó (steamboat or steamship) · ko 증기선 (steamboat or steamship) · ja 蒸気船 (steamboat or steamship) · fi höyrytin (vessel in which articles are subjected to the action of steam) · cmn 汽船 (vessel in which articles are subjected to the action of steam) · pl rabuś (member of a youth gang who engages in steaming (robbing and escaping in a large group)) · ko 찜통 (cooking appliance) · sv ångkokare (cooking appliance) · ar بَاخِرَة (vessel in which articles are subjected to the action of steam) · pt navio/embarcação/barco a vapor (steamboat or steamship) · eu bapore (steamboat or steamship) · kk қасқан (cooking appliance) · mk параброд (steamboat or steamship) · fr marmite à vapeur (cooking appliance) · es barco de vapor (steamboat or steamship) · cmn 蒸籠 /蒸笼 (cooking appliance) · cmn 輪船 /轮船 (vessel in which articles are subjected to the action of steam) · hu lokomobil (traction engine, locomobile) · sw stima (steamboat or steamship) · sv ångfartyg (steamboat or steamship) · yue 蒸煲 (cooking appliance) · cy agerlong (steamboat or steamship) · cs parník (steamboat or steamship) · de Dampfer (vessel in which articles are subjected to the action of steam) · el ατμόπλοιο (steamboat or steamship) · nrf stînmeux (steamboat or steamship) · bg параход (steamboat or steamship) · it vaporetto (steamboat or steamship) · pt maria-fumaça (traction engine, locomobile) · ko 찜기 (cooking appliance) · sw stima (cooking appliance) · de Dampfschiff (steamboat or steamship) · pt vapor (steamboat or steamship) · cs pařák (cooking appliance) · th ลังถึง (cooking appliance) · pl parowar (cooking appliance) · yue 蒸籠 /蒸笼 (cooking appliance) · pl parowar (vessel in which articles are subjected to the action of steam) · gl barco de vapor (vessel in which articles are subjected to the action of steam) · ca vaporadora (cooking appliance) · id kapal uap (steamboat or steamship) · pt caldeira de vapor (vessel in which articles are subjected to the action of steam) · fi painekattila (cooking appliance) · it nave a vapore (steamboat or steamship) · mi tima (traction engine, locomobile) · el κατσαρόλα ατμού (cooking appliance) · fr cuit-vapeur (cooking appliance) · ru парова́рка (cooking appliance) · nds Damper (steamboat or steamship) · cmn 蒸鍋 /蒸锅 (cooking appliance) · pl parowiec (steamboat or steamship) · ja 蒸し器 (cooking appliance) · fi höyrytraktori (traction engine, locomobile) · hi स्टीमर (steamboat or steamship) · luo stima (cooking appliance) · it battello a vapore (vessel in which articles are subjected to the action of steam) · nb dampskip (steamboat or steamship) · pl parostatek (steamboat or steamship) · it battello a vapore (steamboat or steamship) · fi höyryalus (steamboat or steamship) · cmn 輪船 /轮船 (steamboat or steamship) · kam stima (cooking appliance) · ar سَفِينَة بُخَارِيَّة (steamboat or steamship) · hu gőzös (steamboat or steamship) · ru парохо́д (steamboat or steamship) · ms pengukus (cooking appliance) · mer stima (cooking appliance) · fi höyrylaiva (steamboat or steamship) · ki stima (cooking appliance) · cmn 汽船 (steamboat or steamship) · mn жигнүүр (cooking appliance) · sv ångare (steamboat or steamship) · nb damper (steamboat or steamship) · es olla vaporera (cooking appliance) · hu pároló (cooking appliance) · ja 蒸気船 (vessel in which articles are subjected to the action of steam) · fi höyrykeitin (cooking appliance) · kk буқазан (cooking appliance)