Contraption

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /kənˈtɹæp.ʃən/

Definitions

1. A device or machine, typically improvised or mechanical, constructed in an intricate or peculiar manner to perform a specific function
2. A mechanical apparatus or gadget, often elaborate or oddly constructed, designed to accomplish a particular task or purpose
3. An intricate or unusual machine or device, frequently improvised or assembled from various parts, intended to perform some specific operation

Etymology: Nobody can say for certain where "contraption" came from. It first appears in the early 19th century, and it may have been a dialect word from the Western United States, though its precise origin remains unknown. Some have proposed that it blends "contrive" with "trap" and the suffix "-tion", as if a contrived trap were the original idea, while others suggest a mix of "contrivance" and "adaption". Its closest relatives may be the Scots "cantrip" and "cantrap", both meaning a wilful piece of trickery, which hints that the word once carried a sense of cunning or deception.

Synonyms: device, gadget, machine, apparatus, invention

Antonyms: simplicity, plainness