underfeed

American  

[uhn-der-feed, uhn-der-feed] / ˌʌn dərˈfid, ˈʌn dɛrˌfid /

verb (used with object)

underfed, underfeeding

1. to feed insufficiently.

2. to feed with fuel from beneath.

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underfeed British  

verb

1. to give too little food to

2. to supply (a furnace, engine, etc) with fuel from beneath

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noun

1. an apparatus by which fuel, etc, is supplied from below

Etymology

Origin of underfeed

First recorded in 1650–60; under- + feed

Example Sentences

Under an unwise or indolent herder the sheep going on an unaccustomed trail will overtravel and underfeed, until in the midst of good pasture they starve upon their feet.

From Introduction to the Science of Sociology by Park, Robert Ezra

"You shouldn't underfeed the poor kid," said Wally.

From Captain Jim by Bruce, Mary Grant

But many farmers about here will overwork and underfeed all the week, and on Sunday talk about being 'merciful to their beasts.'

From Opening a Chestnut Burr by Roe, Edward Payson

One of these boilers is equipped with a Jones underfeed stoker, and is baffled in the regular way.

From Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers, vol. LXX, Dec. 1910 Federal Investigations of Mine Accidents, Structural Materials and Fuels. Paper No. 1171 by Wilson, Herbert M.

She will overwork you, I'm afraid: I only hope she won't underfeed you.

From Lippincott's Magazine, Vol. 22, November, 1878 of Popular Literature and Science by Various