contraption
/kənˈtɹæp.ʃən/
contraption means A machine that is complicated and precarious. It carries an Arena rating of 1455, earned across 3 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, contraption ranks #729 of 17,142 for Most Ingenious Words, #966 of 17,126 for Most Satisfying to Say, #1,269 of 17,140 for Most Whimsical Words, #1,288 of 17,134 for Most Malleable Words.
contraption is pronounced /kənˈtɹæp.ʃən/.
Why “contraption” is a great word
A mechanical device or contrivance, especially one that is perceived as complicated, strange, or makeshift. First attested in 1825, its origin is unknown but possibly a dialectal blend from western England or the western US, perhaps marrying 'contrive' or 'contrivance' with 'trap' or 'adaptation'. Unlike a 'gadget', which implies clever miniaturization, or a 'mechanism', which denotes reliable precision, a contraption is an assemblage of faith and hope, held together by spit and improvisation. It is the farmer’s repurposed tractor rigged to pump well water, the attic clock rewired with fishing line and a soup can, the coffee maker jury-rigged from a tin can and laboratory glassware—each a testament to ingenuity refusing to accept that the proper tool does not exist, a story of persistence told in bolts, scrap, and will.
Etymology
Possibly a Western US English dialectal word of unknown origin. First attested in the early 19th century. Perhaps from contrive + trap + -tion, while also possibly approximating construction. Chambers suggests contrivance + adaption. Neither Chambers nor Concise Oxford suggests a US origin. Compare cantrip, cantrap (Scots dialect), a wilful piece of trickery.
noun
- A machine that is complicated and precarious.
- Any object.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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