any improvised arrangement for temporary use - lash up
an artificial or unnatural or obviously contrived arrangement of details or parts etc. "the plot contained too many improbable contrivances to be believable"
an elaborate or deceitful scheme contrived to deceive or evade "his testimony was just a contrivance to throw us off the track"
the faculty of contriving
inventive skill "his skillful contrivance of answers to every problem"
a device or control that is very useful for a particular job