pony engine

English

Noun

pony engine (plural pony engines)

2. A small locomotive used for shunting wagons, etc.

   Synonyms: shunter, shunting engine, switcher

   Hypernyms: engine, locomotive

   Coordinate term: iron horse (usually denotes a full-sized locomotive)

4. (Canada, US, dated) A small gasoline engine serving as an auxiliary to a diesel engine (mainly in older designs from the 1930s to 1950s), providing heat to warm it up and, when engaged with a clutch, providing cranking to start it up.

   Synonym: pony motor

Related terms

• donkey engine