There seems to be no consensus on the difference between a snowblower and a snow thrower. Some sites say it's a matter of the machine's size (thrower=small, blower=large). Some say it's a matter of how many stages the machine utilizes in the removal process (single-stage=blower, multi-stage=thrower). Some say there's no difference. Some say "thrower" was adopted because snow removal machines are manly devices usually operated by men, some of whom have problems with anything that "blows" unless it is unambiguously female.