pump car noun2 •A light railroad car propelled by a hand-operated pumping mechanism; a handcar.Down from Black Adder came Tim O'Cannon and his gang, pumping a pump-car for all they were worth, trailing behind them a flat-top trolley packed with Tim's Blossom and his six quadroons. — 1938 •A child's tricycle operated by similar action.There's no reason why junior can't have a pump car due to metal priorities because you can make an all-wood model. — 1944 formspump cars · pump-cars