go-devil

American  

[goh-dev-uhl] / ˈgoʊˌdɛv əl /

noun

1. a flexible, jointed apparatus forced through a pipeline to free it from obstructions.

2. a dart dropped into a well, especially an oil well, to explode a charge of dynamite or nitroglycerin previously placed in a desired position.

3. Railroads. a handcar.

4. a sled used to drag or carry logs, stone, etc.

5. Also called sled cultivator. a cultivator that rides on wooden runners and is used on listed furrows.

6. Western U.S. any exceptionally fast or effective machine or appliance.

   That food processor is a real go-devil.

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Etymology

Origin of go-devil

An Americanism dating back to 1825–35

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

go-devil

Painted and caparisoned in madcap masquerade, they leap down from their green go-devil and race through startled crowds like advance men for oncoming chaos.

From Time Magazine Archive

In the morning he was hauled out of the trap and bound down on a rough skeleton sled made from a forked limb, very much like the contrivance called by lumbermen a "go-devil."

From Bears I Have Met—and Others by Allen Kelly

“Well, this is running your westing down if anybody should ride up in a go-devil and ask you.”

From The Mutiny of the Elsinore by Jack London

Returning at bed time he found his partner webbing a pair of snow-shoes by the light of a stinking "go-devil," consisting of a string suspended in a can of molten grease.

From Pardners by Rex Ellingwood Beach

He saw that steam was up in the boiler which operated the "go-devil," although the contrivance itself was stationary.

From The Iron Trail by Rex Ellingwood Beach

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