Yes, the original term pre-dates the academic one, it used to be someone who either builds or maintains engines.when I worked at NCR, my se=cond level manager called himself an engineer, he had a phd in physics, I asked him one day if he ever drove a train. not a good idea.
Max, I think you need to go a couple of thousand years further back for the origins.Yes, the original term pre-dates the academic one, it used to be someone who either builds or maintains engines.
Middle English (denoting a designer and constructor of fortifications and weapons; formerly also asingineer ): in early use from Old French engigneor, from medieval Latin ingeniator, from ingeniare‘contrive, devise,’ from Latin ingenium (see engine); in later use from French ingénieur or Italianingegnere, also based on Latin ingenium, with the ending influenced by -eer.Yes, the original term pre-dates the academic one, it used to be someone who either builds or maintains engines.
Max.
No, you were right at the end, you need to go back to Roman times.Middle English
I guess that is where we derive 'mechanic'A "maker of engines" in ancient Greece was a mekhanopoios.
Yes and the current English word we have had for a few centuries came from a similar word in an older language.I believe the side-bar question was the origin of the English word, Engineer, not the history of engineering.
and finally ...Dictionary.com's definition ... http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/engineer
engineer:
noun
1. a person trained and skilled in the design, construction, and use of engines or machines, or in any of various branches of engineering :
"a mechanical engineer; a civil engineer."
2. a person who operates or is in charge of an engine.
3. Also called locomotive engineer. Railroads. a person who operates or is in charge of a locomotive.
4. a member of an army, navy, or air force specially trained in engineering work.
5. a skillful manager:
"a political engineer."
verb
6. to plan, construct, or manage as an engineer:
"He's engineered several big industrial projects."
7. to design or create using the techniques or methods of engineering :
"The motor has been engineered to run noiselessly."
8. to arrange, manage, or carry through by skillful or artful contrivance:
"He certainly engineered the election campaign beautifully."
British Dictionary definition:
noun
1. a person trained in any branch of the profession of engineering
2. the originator or manager of a situation, system, etc
3. a mechanic; person who repairs or services machines
Use engineer ...Merriam-Webster.com definition http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/engineer
1 : a member of a military group devoted to engineering work
2 obsolete : a crafty schemer : plotter
3 a : a designer or builder of engines
b : a person who is trained in or follows as a profession a branch of engineering
c : a person who carries through an enterprise by skillful or artful contrivance
4 : a person who runs or supervises an engine or an apparatus
noun
: a person who has scientific training and who designs and builds complicated products, machines, systems, or structures : a person who specializes in a branch of engineering
: a person who runs or is in charge of an engine in an airplane, a ship, etc.
: a person who runs a train
Origin of ENGINEER
Middle English engineour, from Anglo-French, from enginer to devise, construct, from engin
First Known Use: 14th century
The funny thing is I am in complete agreement with your post.Completely in disagreement with my post, but a very well stated argument.
When "they" keep the jobs and you know not to compete with a certain class... are you familiar with the term "we have met the enemy and they are us?" Or how about "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em."I've had many happy days correcting the degreed engineers, but when the company changes, they get the job and I get the boot. It doesn't matter that they tell the transformer guy to wind a toroid that is physically impossible or submit a design that explodes when overloaded, they have the degree and I am a peon. So...don't compete with the title, "engineer". Make yourself the boss of the engineers. Make yourself the head of some department.
by Robert Keim
by Jake Hertz
by Duane Benson
by Jake Hertz