mechanic

alternative obsolete mechanick

1. archaicmechanical; relating to mechanics or the laws of motion in physics

   […] these mechanick Philosophers being in no Way able to give an Account thereof from the necessary motion of Matter, unguided by Mind for Ends […]

   1691, John Ray, The Wisdom of God Manifested in the Works of the Creation. […], London: […] Samuel Smith, […], →OCLC

2. archaicmechanical; precise but lifeless, as if performed by machine

   But, for the unquiet heart and brain, ⁠A use in measured language lies; ⁠The sad mechanic exercise, Like dull narcotics, numbing pain.

   1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto V”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC

3. obsoleteOf or relating to a mechanic or artificer, or to the class of artisans; hence, rude; common; vulgar; base.

   Mechanic slaves, With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers.

   c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]

   3 more examples

   Authors both Sacred and Profane we see complain of the Level of Learning, with Mechanick Ignorance: [...]

   1654, Richard Whitlock, Zootomia; Or, Observations on the Present Manners of the English

   But then they did not wrong themſelves ſo much, / To make a God, a Hero, or a King, / (Stripp'd of his golden Crown and purple Robe) / Deſcend to a Mechanick Dialect, / Nor (to avoid ſuch meanneſs) ſoaring high / With empty ſound, and aiery notions fly; [...]

   1680, Horace, translated by Earl of Roscommon [i.e., Wentworth Dillon, 4th Earl of Roscommon], Horace’s Art of Poetry. […], London: […] Henry Herringman […], →OCLC, page 17

   Sometimes he ply'd the ſtrong mechanic Tool, / Or rear'd the Fabrick from the fineſt Draught; [...]

   1748, James Thomson, “Canto II”, in The Castle of Indolence: […], London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, stanza XII, page 47

plural mechanics · alternative obsolete mechanick

1. historicalA manual worker; a labourer or artisan.First known use 16th c.

   The lower orders were freer than they had ever been – free […] to choose their own lay preachers, mechanics like the rest of the congregation.

   1972, Christopher Hill, The World Turned Upside Down, Folio Society, published 2016, page 77

   1 more example

   His noble earnestness, his fidelity, his gallant shielding of her, his generous conquest of his own wrong and his own pride for her sake, are simply honourable, manly, and true. Nothing less worthy can be seen through the lustre of such qualities in the commonest mechanic, nothing less worthy can be seen in the best-born gentleman.

   1852 March – 1853 September, Charles Dickens, Bleak House, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1853, →OCLC

2. Someone who builds or repairs machinery, a technician; now specifically, someone who works with and repairs the mechanical parts of a motor vehicle, aircraft or similar.First known use 17th c.

   Synonyms: grease monkey

3. A device, method or means; a function.
   1. tabletop gamesvideo gamesA function, rule or other implementation that dictates gameplay; a ludeme, a feature.First known use 20th c.

      This game has a mechanic where if you run toward a ledge you automatically jump off rather than just falling.

4. slangA hitman.First known use 20th c.

   And from then on, his bag was silence. Silence and killing. Overnight he became the best grunt we had, a real killer, a mechanic.

   1976, Newton Thornburg, Cutter and Bone, Little, Brown, →ISBN, page 250

5. gamblingA cheat who manipulates the cards or dice.

   It was so obvious. I mean, all of Nicky's half-assed mechanics, they were real signal happy.

   1995, Nicholas Pileggi, Martin Scorsese, Casino, spoken by Ace (Robert De Niro)

   1 more example

   I can do other things beside burglarizing. I'm a first-class crap dealer, I'm a pretty good card mechanic, pretty good dice mechanic.

   1969, Bruce Jackson, A Thief's Primer, Macmillan, →ISBN, page 91

1. A surname.