donkey engine

noun

A steam-powered winch, once widely used in logging operations, also found in the mining and maritime industries.

Similar
steam donkeyswitch engineauxiliary engine
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Meanings

noundonkey engine (plural donkey engines)

plural donkey engines

  1. historicalA steam-powered winch, once widely used in logging operations, also found in the mining and maritime industries.

    Synonyms: steam donkey

  2. historicalAny of a class of machines that used donkeys as a source of power to an output shaft or sheave.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA steam-powered winch, once widely used in logging operations, also found in the mining and maritime industries.

Similar
steam donkey

More synonyms by meaning

nouna locomotive for switching rolling stock in a railroad yard

Similar
switch engine
Broader
locomotiveenginelocomotive engine

noun(nautical) a small engine (as one used on board ships to operate a windlass)

Similar
auxiliary engine
Broader
engine
Also see
donkeysteam donkeyswitch engine

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Cite this entry
APA

donkey engine. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/donkey%20engine

MLA

“donkey engine.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/donkey%20engine. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “donkey engine,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/donkey%20engine.

Source: donkey engine on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.