Added 10 October 2026
contraption
/kənˈtɹæp.ʃən/ noun
First recorded: early 19th century Wiktionary
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about contraption at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- A device or control that is very useful for a particular job.
Origin
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.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)