different between laborer vs mechanic

English

Alternative forms

• labourer

Etymology

labor +? -er

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /?le?.b?.?/

Noun

laborer (plural laborers)

1. (American spelling) One who uses body strength instead of intellectual power to earn a wage, usually hourly.

Related terms

• laborist

Translations

Old French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin lab?r?re, present active infinitive of lab?r?.

Verb

laborer

1. to work; to labor

Conjugation

This verb conjugates as a first-group verb ending in -er. This verb has a stressed present stem labeur distinct from the unstressed stem labor. Old French conjugation varies significantly by date and by region. The following conjugation should be treated as a guide.

Related terms

• labour

Descendants

• Middle French: labourer
  • French: labourer
• Norman: labouother
• ? Middle English: labouren
  • English: labour, labor
  • Scots: laubour

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.