puddle-jumper

or pud·dle·jump·er

[ puhd-l-juhm-per ]

noun

, Slang.

1. a light plane, especially one traveling only short distances or making many stops.
2. an old, rickety automobile; flivver.

Word History and Origins

Origin of puddle-jumper¹

First recorded in 1930–35; humorously so called because it is used on routes that include stopovers in small, insignificant places