different between equipment vs mechanic

English

Etymology

From equip +? -ment, or from French équipement.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??kw?pm?nt/

Noun

equipment (usually uncountable, plural equipments)

1. The act of equipping, or the state of being equipped, as for a voyage or expedition.
   • (Can we date this quote?) David Hume:

     The equipment of the fleet was hastened by De Witt.

2. Whatever is used in equipping something or someone, for example things needed for an expedition or voyage.
   • 1851, Henry Longfellow, The Golden Legend

     Armed and dight, In the equipments of a knight.

Derived terms

Related terms

• equip

Translations

English

Alternative forms

• mechanick (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English mechanike (“mechanic art”), from Old French mecanique, from Latin mechanicus (“of or belonging to machines or mechanics, inventive”), from Ancient Greek ????????? (m?khanikós, “pertaining to machines or contrivance, mechanic, ingenious, inventive”), from ?????? (m?khan?, “a machine, contrivance”); see machine.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /m??kæn?k/
• Rhymes: -æn?k
• Hyphenation: me?chan?ic

Adjective

mechanic

1. (archaic) mechanical; relating to the laws of motion in the art of constructing things

   • these mechanic philosophers
2. (obsolete) Of or relating to a mechanic or artificer, or to the class of artisans; hence, rude; common; vulgar; base.
   • 1654, Richard Whitlock, Zootomia; Or, Observations on the Present Manners of the English

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

Noun

mechanic (plural mechanics)

1. (now chiefly historical) A manual worker; a labourer or artisan. [from 16th c.]
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. [from 17th c.]
3. A device, command, or feature which allows someone to achieve a specific task. [from 20th c.]

4. A hit man. [from 20th c.]
   • 1972, The Mechanic (film title)
5. (gambling) A cheat who manipulates the cards or dice.

   Hyponyms: card mechanic, dice mechanic

Derived terms

• auto mechanic
• card mechanic
• dice mechanic

Related terms

Translations

Further reading

• mechanic in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “mechanic”, in Online Etymology Dictionary
• mechanic in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.