steam shovel
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noun
a machine for digging or excavating, operated by its own engine and boiler.
QUIZ
QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!
Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.
Question 1 of 7
“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.
Origin of steam shovel
An Americanism dating back to 1875–80
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use steam shovel in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for steam shovel
steam-shovel
noun
a steam-driven mechanical excavator, esp one having a large bucket or grab on a beam slung from a revolving jib
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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