Engine,
a term applied exclusively to military affairs in the Bible. The engines to which the term is applied in
were designed to propel various missiles from the walls of the besieged town. One, with which the Hebrews were acquainted, was the battering ram, described in
and still more precisely in
And in Jerusalem he made machines, the invention of expert men, to be placed on the towers and angles of the walls for sending arrows and great stones. And his name was honoured far and wide; for he was greatly helped till he was strong.
And make an attack on it, shutting it in, building strong places against it, and making high an earthwork against it; and put up tents against it, placing engines all round it for smashing down its walls.
At his right hand was the fate of Jerusalem, to give orders for destruction, to send up the war-cry, to put engines of war against the doors, lifting up earthworks, building walls.
He will put up his engines of war against your walls, and your towers will be broken down by his axes.
Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain