donkey boiler
- noun
- /ˈdɔŋki ˈbɔɪlər/
- Archaic
:
caldera auxiliar
- While in port, the crew relied on the donkey boiler for steam and heating.
Examples
-
The ship's donkey boiler was essential for heating water.
-
The chief engineer inspected the donkey boiler before the ship docked for repairs.
-
Some older vessels still have a functional donkey boiler for auxiliary power.
-
Many donkey boilers are used in maritime operations.
-
The chief engineer inspected the donkey boiler before the ship docked for repairs.
-
While in port, the crew relied on the donkey boiler for steam and heating.
-
Some older vessels still have a functional donkey boiler for auxiliary power.
Synonyms
54
3.4
A closed tank that heats water to make steam for heating or power
1
3.9
A closed tank that heats water to make steam to power machines or heat buildings
A small machine on a ship that makes steam or hot water when the main system is off
How Powerful
- Specialized
1
3.9
- Specialized
54
3.4
- Archaic
- US
11
3.1
Surface Forms
Morphology
donkey + boiler
The head noun 'boiler' clearly signals a steam/heating device, so the core concept (a kind of boiler) is transparent. However, the modifier 'donkey' here is a specialized nautical/technical metaphor meaning a small or auxiliary unit rather than the animal, which is not predictable for an average B1 learner who only knows the literal words, making the full sense only partially inferable without prior exposure.
Etymology
The term donkey boiler may come from the idea of a small donkey, a 'helper' on a ship, whose little boiler did the extra work when the main engines were off. That's why the name now means a small boiler used for power and heat while a ship is in port.