Meaning of smoke wagon | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A vehicle that generates smoke; specifically, an automobile or a train.
   US, archaic, slang
2. A handgun, especially a revolver.
   US, archaic, slang

Examples

“If you gwine afoot, it'll take⟳ you about a day; if you gwine in de stage⟳ or de homneybuss, you make⟳ it in half a day; but if you get⟳ in one ob dese smoke-waggons, you be almost dar now!”

“The village priests were seen to go to and fro by train⟳, and the simple country folk thought that what they did could not be wrong. By degrees the peasants themselves began to try⟳ the "smoke-wagons" too, […]”

“Indians of Idaho are losing their superstitious feeling about the "smoke⟳ wagon," as they call⟳ an automobile, and the rush⟳ to get⟳ machines has started among the more intelligent and wealthy tribesmen.”

“I am not old enough to remember⟳ those one- and two-cylinder primitives that first chugged on the scene around the turn⟳ of the century. But those who can remember⟳ attest to the fact that they came in with billowing plumes of smoke⟳ in their wake⟳. Indeed, "smoke-wagon" was commonly their derisive designation. You can still see⟳ why, if you witness a demonstration of antique cars restored to their prime by proud owners today.”

“[T]he President said nothing on how to protect⟳ our lungs from the some 70 million smoke⟳ wagons currently on the road.”

“[…] Bourcey, the blacksmith, who was fitting on a mule's shoe, returned with the shoe at the end⟳ of the tongs, and, thrusting it into the fire, began blowing the bellows. It was laughable to see⟳ the stampede among the redskins when they saw⟳ this ominous maneuver—they thought he was going to fire the "smoke⟳ wagon."”

“The boss of construction across the river is a little sawed off individual named Nelson, and to see⟳ him standing like⟳ Napoleon, on the huge fill⟳ which issues above the river, with a great big smoke⟳ wagon, pointed forward⟳, strapped to his leg and pulling him over sideways from its weight; is a picture which would surely make⟳ angels weep⟳.”

“But come⟳ morning, we agreed to forgive⟳ and forget⟳. Bain he says he was sure glad to hear⟳ that, but he'd take⟳ our guns away with him any how. Bain says we could have⟳ our smoke⟳ wagons after a week, by which time he figured we got this worm out of our brains.”

“[page 650] The following list of hobo words, presented in glossary form⟳, was collected by me during twenty years of experience⟳ with hobo cases in my profession of attorney-at-law. I have⟳ consulted no books or records in compiling it but made it directly from experience⟳. […] [page 653] Smoke⟳ wagon—pistol.”

“Go ahead. Skin it. Skin that smoke⟳ wagon and see⟳ what happens. […] I'm getting tired of your gas. Jerk that pistol and go to work⟳.”

“I soon heard two smoke-wagons [pistols] banging. […] There they lay⟳ both shot and dying.”

“Culhane turned up his palms in a vague gesture of surrender⟳ that brought both hands an inch closer to the smoke⟳ wagons slung in his holsters.”

CEFR level