Contraption

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /kÉ™nˈtræp.ʃən/

Origin

Possibly a Western US English dialectical word. Unknown origin. Perhaps from contrive + trap + -tion. Chambers suggests contrivance + adaption

Chambers Dictionary, Edinburgh, 1998, s.v.

. Neither Chambers nor Concise Oxford suggests a US origin. cf cantrip (Scots dialect), a wilful piece of trickery.

Full definition of contraption

Noun

1. A machine that is complicated and precarious.
2. (figuratively, derogatory or ironic) Any object.
• Wodehouse Offing|XII|“Yes, sir, if that was the language of love, I'll eat my hat,” said the blood relation, alluding, I took it, to the beastly straw contraption in which she does her gardening, concerning which I can only say that it is almost as foul as Uncle Tom's Sherlock Holmes deerstalker, which has frightened more crows than any other lid in Worcestershire.

Synonyms

• (mechanical device) contrivance, device, fandango, gadget, mechanism