I came across a word today that I haven't heard in awhile: doohickey. There are many words like this that mean tools or gadgets for which one does not know or remember the name; for example, another is thingamajig. What are others?

And of course, all engineers (that's the UK word -not a locomotive driver) know the precise meaning of the measurement, "A gnat's". As in, "...Move towards you a gnat's..."

Richard English

In "There's a Word For It" by Elster, there is a chapter entitled, "Doodads, Rigamajigs, and Whatnots".

He included this poem, by Alison Wonderword, talking about little-known words for well-known things:

"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
"Of pintles, sprags, and bandoleers-
"Of pillions and feazings-
"And where a moonglade can be found-
"And why pilcrows have no wings.

"A gnat's". As in, "...Move towards you
a gnat's..."
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I've often heard "a gnat's eyelash."

In UK engineering terms the apendage is not an eyelash but the concept is similar.

Richard English

quote:

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Originally posted by Asa Lovejoy:
"A gnat's". As in, "...Move towards you
a gnat's..."

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You're close. Start at the gnat's eyelash and go back about a gnat's.

"Widget" is a term used to mean an unspecified product as in "Say you own a company that makes widgets..." I hear it used by professional speakers trying to appear cute and it always seems cloying to me.

Quote

"...You're close. Start at the gnat's eyelash and go back about a gnat's..."

No, only about half a gnat's.

Richard English