Etymology

steamer

steam·er
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Today it means: A vessel in which articles are subjected to the action of steam, as in washing and in various processes of manufacture. Full definition →

First used c. 1850 – 1900s.
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steamer · noun, verb1

From steam + -er. The steamer duck or steamer (sense 6.2) is apparently named for its resemblance to a paddle steamer when swimming rapidly. The feces sense comically evokes the idea of steaming hot food and probably reflects that fresh feces sometimes give off visible water vapor in cold outdoor conditions such as those encountered by hunters, campers, and soldiers.

steamer · noun2

From steam tug, rhyming slang for mug (“a gullible or easily cheated person; a stupid or contemptible person”).

First known use, by meaning

  • c. 1850 – 1900s. A dish made by cooking diced meat very slowly in a tightly sealed pot with a minimum of flavourings, allowing it to steam in its own juices; specifically such a dish made with kangaroo meat.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.