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tramp steamer

American  

noun

  1. tramp.


Etymology

Origin of tramp steamer

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In 1950, at 18, Jacques went to sea on a tramp steamer running coal between Dunkirk, France, and Algiers, the capital of Algeria, the rebellious French possession.

From New York Times • Sep. 26, 2019

This seminal science-fiction movie was in effect a transposition to outer of a Conrad novel about a run-down tramp steamer picking up a lethally dangerous passenger from a remote island.

From The Guardian • Jun. 2, 2012

A little tramp steamer, her name roughly painted out, chugged into the harbor, noisily dropped her mud hook.

From Time Magazine Archive

Off the shore of New York's Long Island, a rusty tramp steamer called the Golden Venture runs aground, disgorging nearly 300 frightened Chinese trying to enter the country illegally; 10 die.

From Time Magazine Archive

Another possibility was taking a boat or a tramp steamer, but that might be too prolonged.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

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