| 释义 |
▪ I. put-put, n. orig. N. Amer.|ˈpʌtpʌt|
Also putt-putt.
[Echoic.]
A muffled explosive sound characteristic of an internal-combustion engine. Also applied to objects which make such a sound, as a machine-gun, a motorized boat or bicycle, etc. Also attrib.
1905Rudder Feb. 61/2 Already the class of small launches, of which the converted [St. Lawrence] skiffs form the majority, has achieved the distinction of a special title, of unknown origin, but of universal use; ‘put-put’, or more briefly, ‘put’. The words themselves are now almost as common to the ear as the familiar voice of the two⁓cycle motor which called them into being. 1929M. A. Gill Underworld Slang 9/2 Put-put, machine gun. 1930J. P. Burke in Amer. Mercury Dec. 457/1 Putt-putt, an out-board motorboat used in liquor running. ‘A sneaker's no good. Water's too shallow. Got to use a putt-putt.’ 1959P. Capon Amongst Those Missing 165 The others could hear it now, a quick-fire ‘put-put-put’ like a distant motor-bike. 1964E. A. Nida Toward Sci. Transl. iii. 31 An onomatopoeic expression, such as putt-putt or choo-choo, is presumably an imitation of the very sound made by the object in question. 1965S. T. Ollivier Petticoat Farm iv. 46 A roar of laughter drowned the put-put of the engine. 1967Guardian 28 Dec. 5/3 The little put-put boat which carries passengers ashore. 1968Sunday Mail Mag. (Brisbane) 15 Sept. 4/2 Anchored right in the middle was a small, old putt-putt type launch. 1974J. Mitchell Death & Bright Water xii. 134 [He] listened to the putt putt of the two-stroke as he rode back to Kronis. 1977Time 19 Dec. 13/2 Does he really think the new cruise missile is no better than Hitler's high-flying, inaccurate put-put? 1978M. Z. Lewin Silent Salesman xv. 80 The cop..got on his putt-putt, and went away.
▪ II. put-put, v. orig. N. Amer.|ˈpʌtpʌt|
Also putt-putt.
[Echoic.]
intr. To make an intermittent explosive sound characteristic of an internal-combustion engine. To move, making such a noise. Also quasi-trans. Also fig. Hence put(t)-putting vbl. n.
1905Outing July 389/1 In and out between them trim little launches go put-putting. 1939A. Keith Land below Wind vii. 113 The motor put-puts back a horrid petrol odour. 1955‘D. Cory’ Phoenix Sings v. 82 A peculiar put-put-put-put... The put-putting noise was increasing... I made out the shape of a great sailing-barge..its tiny donkey-engine chugging away. 1958Spectator 4 July 12/2 The diesel engine put-put-puts its warm gargle. 1961J. C. Lilly Man & Dolphin xi. 153 A dolphin..naturally uses other sounds to convey and receive ‘meaning’:..putt-putting and whistles for exchanges with other dolphins. Ibid. 158 Lizzie [sc. a dolphin], near the hydrophone, putt-putted. 1973‘D. Jordan’ Nile Green xliii. 220 The helicopter..came in fast over the desert, the put⁓putting loud overhead. 1974R. Jeffries Mistakenly in Mallorca viii. 78 Old Morley keeps boasting about how he putt-putts all his money out of England. |