contraption
Plural: contraptions
Noun
- a device or control that is very useful for a particular job
- A machine that is complicated and precarious.
- Any object.
Origin / Etymology
Possibly a Western US English dialectal word of unknown origin. 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.
Synonyms
appliance, contrivance, convenience, gadget, gismo, gizmo, widget, construction, device, fandango, mechanism
Scrabble Score: 15
contraption: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Wordcontraption: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
contraption: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary