DONKEY ENGINE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does donkey engine mean? 

• DONKEY ENGINE (noun)
  The noun DONKEY ENGINE has 2 senses:

1. a locomotive for switching rolling stock in a railroad yard

2. (nautical) a small engine (as one used on board ships to operate a windlass)

  Familiarity information: DONKEY ENGINE used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DONKEY ENGINE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A locomotive for switching rolling stock in a railroad yard

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

donkey engine; switch engine

Hypernyms ("donkey engine" is a kind of...):

engine; locomotive; locomotive engine; railway locomotive (a wheeled vehicle consisting of a self-propelled engine that is used to draw trains along railway tracks)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(nautical) a small engine (as one used on board ships to operate a windlass)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

auxiliary engine; donkey engine

Hypernyms ("donkey engine" is a kind of...):

engine (motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work)

Domain category:

ship (a vessel that carries passengers or freight)