vbl. sb. [f. prec. + -ING1.]
1. a. The action of the verb ENGINEER; the work done by, or the profession of, an engineer. b. The art and science of the engineer’s profession.
Often used with defining words, as in civil, mechanical, military engineering; agricultural, electric, gas, hydraulic, railway, sanitary, telegraph engineering; see ENGINEER sb. 2–4.
1720. De Foe, Capt. Singleton, xv. (1840), 262. This [a contrivance in defensive warfare] is the cunningest piece of Indian engineering that ever was heard of.
1829. C. Welch, Wesl. Polity, 172. A Sunday School Teacher’s labour is not much unlike civil engineering.
1840. Civil. Eng. & Archit. Journ., 59. There is room for … a school of Engineering on sound principles.
1858. Greener, Gunnery, 267. That portion of engineering which would define what power of engine would work a thousand cotton spindles.
1866. Engineering, 5 Jan., 1. The title of this journal has been chosen … as typifying the business, art, and profession of the Engineer.
1873. Tristram, Moab, xiv. 270. An ancient roadway of which the engineering … could be easily traced.
1879. Cassell’s Techn. Educ., I. 29. Civil Engineering is the term applied to that science which treats of the construction of canals, railroads, roads, bridges … aqueducts and such like.
1887. Daily News, 24 Oct., 2/5. Shipbuilding and marine engineering have lately been doing better.
c. fig. Contriving, manœuvring.
1780. Cowper, Progr. Err., 321. With some cold moral think to quench the fire; Though all your engineering proves in vain.
1884. St. James’s Gaz., 21 March, 3/2. Party engineering and the trickery of elections.
2. attrib.
1739. Labelye, Westm. Br., v. Very great masters in the Building or Engineering Way.
1758. Warburton, Div. Legat., Pref. (1765), p. lxiv. (R.). The Roman Conclave succeeded to the Roman Senate in this engineering work.
1792. Burke, Consid. Pres. St. Affairs, Wks. 1815, VII. 93. One arm is extremely good, the engineering and artillery branch.
1822. Byron, Juan, VII. xi. Excuse this engineering slang.
1884. Athenæum, 27 Sept., 397/3. The military and engineering policy of the rulers of the kingdom.
