27 September 2011 - fire engine

“Fire engine” on the face of it ought to mean “the major kind of engine other than electric”. Instead, historically it means “a machine for defending against fires,” as compared to the siege engine, “a machine for attacking in a siege”. Or you could say that it is to control fire, another connection with fire and the sword. So on consideration, “fire engine” ought to mean butane lighter, and the other major kind of engine is the chainsaw.