contrivance (
http://definr.com/contrivance)
n 1: a device that very useful for a particular job [syn:
appliance,
contraption,
convenience,
gadget,
gizmo,
gismo,
widget]
2: the faculty of contriving; inventive skill; "his skillful
contrivance of answers to every problem"
3: an elaborate or deceitful scheme contrived to deceive or
evade; "his testimony was just a contrivance to throw us
off the track" [syn:
stratagem,
dodge]
4: an artificial or unnatural or obviously contrived
arrangement of details or parts etc.; "the plot contained
too many improbable contrivances to be believable"
5: any improvised arrangement for temporary use [syn:
lash-up]
6: the act of devising something [syn:
devisal]