donkey-engine

A sailor operates the donkey-engine to lift cargo onto the ship.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small auxiliary engine: A "donkey-engine" is a small, often steam-powered, auxiliary engine used primarily on ships for tasks such as hoisting cargo, operating winches, or pumping water. It is typically separate from the main propulsion engine.

Usage Examples

• (A small auxiliary engine for hoisting cargo.)
• (An auxiliary engine for pumping.)

Advanced Usage

• "donkey-engine as a metaphor": In figurative language, "donkey-engine" can refer to a secondary or supporting mechanism that performs essential but less glamorous work.
  • In the office, the filing clerk was the donkey-engine of the department, keeping everything running smoothly. (A person performing essential but unglamorous support tasks.)

Variants and Related Words

• Donkey pump (n): a small auxiliary pump, often powered by a donkey-engine.
  • The donkey pump failed, so the engineers had to repair it quickly. (A small pump used for auxiliary tasks.)
• Donkey boiler (n): a small auxiliary boiler on a ship, often used to supply steam to the donkey-engine.
  • The donkey boiler provided steam for the winch. (A small boiler for auxiliary purposes.)

Synonyms

• Auxiliary engine: a secondary engine that supports the main engine.
• Winch engine: a small engine used specifically for operating a winch.

Phrasal Verbs

• Fire up the donkey-engine: to start or activate the auxiliary engine.
  • The captain ordered the engineers to fire up the donkey-engine for the unloading operation. (Start the auxiliary engine.)

Related Idioms

• Work like a donkey-engine: to work steadily and tirelessly, often in a supporting role.
  • She worked like a donkey-engine, doing all the background tasks no one else noticed. (To work hard and consistently in a supporting capacity.)