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Puffing tugs were how people refered to tugboats from the early days. In the late 1800's and early 1900's tugs were steam operated. The engines did not run as smooth as todays engines and they made a thumping sound and puffed steam. Think of the way that an old steam locomotive sounded. Puff, puff, puff. It was the same as the tugboats. It wasn't the name of tugs but more of a popular way that writers described them.

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17y ago

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