teuf-teufn.
/ˈtʊftʊf/ An imitation of the repeated sound of gases escaping from the exhaust of a petrol engine. Hence as v. intransitive, (of a motor) to make such a sound; (of a person) to ride in a chugging motor vehicle. Now usually anglicized as tuff-tuff n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > engine sound > [noun]
puttering1824
pant1840
puff-puff1856
chug1866
phut1874
teuf-teuf1902
tuff-tuff1902
chuff1914
chuff-chuff1914
phut-phut1916
put-putting1923
put-put1925
pocketa-pocketa1939
putter1942
phut-phutting1954
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > engine sound > [verb (intransitive)]
pant1735
chug1896
teuf-teuf1902
put-put1905
chug-chug1907
chuff1914
chuff-chuff1914
putter1937
phut-phut1939
society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > riding in a vehicle > ride in a vehicle [verb (intransitive)] > ride in a wheeled vehicle > in noisy motor vehicle
roar1816
teuf-teuf1902
1902 Daily Chron. 22 Aug. 3/4 The ‘teuf-teuf’ of the rapid motor is everywhere on the splendid roads.
1904 H. G. Wells Food of Gods i. iv. 125 People..used to see him almost daily teufteufing slowly about Hyde Park.
1905 Westm. Gaz. 9 Sept. 11/3 The teuf-teufing of the motor is drowned by the tinkle of marriage bells.
1907 G. B. Shaw John Bull's Other Island iii. 77 His ear catches an approaching teuf-teuf.
1914 T. A. Baggs Back from Front xxiv. 121 Suddenly, piercing the night stillness, came the harsh teuf-teuf of a motor-car.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1933; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1902