Definition

Noun: 1. A steam-powered road locomotive: A traction engine is a type of self-propelled steam engine, mounted on wheels, designed to provide motive power for hauling heavy loads on roads or across fields, rather than on railway tracks. It was historically used for tasks like ploughing, hauling timber, and road haulage.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The museum restored a century-old traction engine to its former glory.
  • Before the invention of the tractor, farmers used traction engines for heavy ploughing.
  • The parade featured a brightly polished traction engine pulling a vintage caravan.

Advanced Usage

• "To be in traction": This is a separate, common medical idiom meaning to have a limb pulled and held in a special device to allow a broken bone to heal correctly. It is not directly related to the vehicle but shares the root concept of "pulling."
  • After the accident, his leg was in traction for six weeks.

Variants and Related Words

• Steamroller (Noun): A type of traction engine specifically designed for road compaction and flattening surfaces. All steamrollers are traction engines, but not all traction engines are steamrollers.
• Road locomotive (Noun): A synonym for traction engine, emphasizing its use on roads.
• Portable engine (Noun): A related steam engine that is not self-propelled; it is wheeled but must be towed to a location to provide stationary power for machinery.

Synonyms

• Steam tractor
• Road locomotive
• Steam lorry (primarily British English for later, more truck-like models)

Related Phrases

• Steam ploughing: A common historical use for traction engines, where two engines would work in tandem, using a cable to pull a plough back and forth across a field.
• Showman's engine: A highly decorated type of traction engine used to power and transport fairground rides.

Notes on Meaning

The term "traction engine" specifically refers to the historical, steam-powered vehicle. While modern diesel-powered vehicles also provide traction, they are not called "traction engines." The core idea is the combination of steam power and off-rail mobility for heavy pulling.

Noun

1. steam-powered locomotive for drawing heavy loads along surfaces other than tracks