subs. (common).—1. A locomotive; PUFFING-BILLY; and (2) a small river tug or launch: also PUFF-PUFF.
1899. Daily Telegraph, 29 March, 7, 1. The wonderful PUFF-PUFT [which] breathed smoke and spat fire and screamed if it saw a station or another train.
1901. Troddles, 143. Down went Wilks with a blare … broken by lamentation for his PUFF-PUFF.
See PUFF, subs. 1.
