engine

n. machine which supplies force and motion, motor; locomotive; part of a program which handles certain types of data (Computers)

An engine is something that produces an output effect from a given input. The origin of engineering however, came from the design, building and working of (military "engines") because before such devices came to be employed in battles there were very few mechanical devices used. Military engines included siege engines, large catapults, trebuchets, battering rams etc. So the first engineers were military engineers, then later as engineering developed, there came civil engineers. These were engineers who dealt with designing, building and commissioning roads, bridges, docks and wharves, large public and private buildings.
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Noun
1. motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
(hypernym) motor
(hyponym) aircraft engine
(part-meronym) camshaft
2. something used to achieve a purpose; "an engine of change"
(hypernym) causal agent, cause, causal agency
3. a wheeled vehicle consisting of a self-propelled engine that is used to draw trains along railway tracks
(synonym) locomotive, locomotive engine, railway locomotive
(hypernym) self-propelled vehicle
(hyponym) choo-choo
(member-holonym) train, railroad train
(part-meronym) fender, buffer, cowcatcher, pilot

n. offing

(v. t.)
To rack; to torture.
  

(v. t.)
To equip with an engine; -- said especially of steam vessels; as, vessels are often built by one firm and engined by another.
  

(v. t.)
To assault with an engine.
  

(n.)
Natural capacity; ability; skill.
  

(n.)
Anything used to effect a purpose; any device or contrivance; an agent.
  

(n.)
Any instrument by which any effect is produced; especially, an instrument or machine of war or torture.
  

(n.)
A compound machine by which any physical power is applied to produce a given physical effect.