Noun: donkey engine 'dóng-kee'en-jun
- (nautical) a small engine (as one used on board ships to operate a windlass)
"The donkey engine powered the anchor winch during docking";
- auxiliary engine
- A locomotive for switching rolling stock in a railway yard
"The donkey engine moved cars between different tracks in the busy rail yard";
- switch engine
Derived forms: donkey engines
Type of: engine, loco [informal], locomotive, locomotive engine, railroad locomotive [N. Amer], railway locomotive [Brit, Cdn]
Encyclopedia: Donkey engine