Green’s Dictionary of Slang

vulgar, contemptible.

1595		Maroccus Extaticus B3: A mechinicall fellowe shall go farre into a Gentleman, and a Gentleman so farre out of himselfe.
1599		Shakespeare Henry V I ii: The poor mechanic porters crowding in.
1608		Dekker Lanthorne and Candle-Light Ch. 5: There be Fellowes, Of course and common bloud; Mechanick knaues, Whose wittes lie deeper buried then in graues.
1612		J. Taylor Laugh and Be Fat 43: When base mechanicke, muddy minded slaues, / Whose choicest food is garlicke & greene cheese.
c.1620		Beaumont & Fletcher Little French Lawyer III i: Ere I cherish Such a mechanick humour, I’ll be nothing.
1632		T. Randolph Jealous Lovers I ii: Away mechanick trash: I’le kick thee sonne of earth [...] For torturing my poore father.
1643		A. Brome ‘To a Potting Priest upon a Quarrel’ Songs and Poems (1661) 194: That rebellions beer usurp’d your crown. And your Mechanick heels gaz’d on the stars.
1659		J. Gauden Tears, Sighs, etc. of the Church of England Bk IV 426: What Christian is there of so popular, plebian, triviall, and mechanick a spirit, as not to desire to see proper and meet judges.
1681		S. Colvil Whiggs Supplication Pt II 37: The Pastors who do rule this Kirk, What are they, but the handy-work Of mens Mechanick Paws.
1705		Vanbrugh Confederacy I i: A Woman must indeed be of a mechanick Mold, who is either troubled or pleas’d with any thing her Husband can do to her.
1771		Cooke in Foote Maid of Bath Married A2: Reducing the Maid of Bath to the Dilemma of either chusing a Husband out of an old Hunks or Grub, a Debauchee [...] and a mechanical Prig.
1787		‘Peter Pindar’ ‘Peter’s Pension’ Works (1794) II 159: ‘Nothing but poor, mechanic stuff,’ they cry, ‘Shall be quoted for the public eye.’.
1825		C.M. Westmacott Eng. Spy I 215: Ay ev’ry step some odious face, / Of true mechanic cut, will place / Themselves plump in your way.