Originally, karakuri was the general term for mechanical objects, and today, it mostly refers to the Japanese traditional mechanical devices intended for amusement, such as karakuri ningyo (a mechanical doll).
からくりは元々は機械全般をあらわす言葉だが、現代ではからくり人形など娯楽性のある日本の伝統的機械装置を指す場合に使うことが多い。