put-put

American  

[puht-puht, -puht] / ˈpʌtˈpʌt, -ˌpʌt /

Or putt-putt

noun

1. the sound made by a small internal-combustion engine or imitative of its operation.

2. 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.

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verb (used without object)

put-putted, put-putting

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

put-put British  

/ ˈpʌtˌpʌt /

noun

1. a light chugging or popping sound, as made by a petrol engine

2. a vehicle powered by an engine making such a sound

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verb

1. (intr) to make or travel along with such a sound

Etymology

Origin of put-put

First recorded in 1900–05; imitative

Example Sentences

The boat containing the two rough men was no longer in sight, but finally there drifted down on the night wind the soft put-put of the motor.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

In a quiet place like that its put-put could be heard for miles.

From Project Gutenberg

As he did this, he heard the put-put of a motor, and presently around a bend of the shore showed the headlight of Mr. Appleby's motor-boat.

From Project Gutenberg

As they rounded the point they heard the steady put-put! of a gasoline engine not far off.

From Project Gutenberg