Dictionary

doohickey en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈduhɪki/ (US)

Etymology

First attested 1914, of uncertain origin, probably from doodad + hickey.

Meanings

1. (slang) A thing (used in a vague way to refer to something whose name one does not know or cannot recall)
   • Customers will ask for "gizmos" and "what-cha-ma-call-its" and "doohickeys," and make crude drawings on paper bags of what it is they think they need. 1981 October 27, William E. Geist, “HUNTING FOR DOOHICKEYS”, in The New York Times:
   • What does this doohickey do?
   • Besides, the show has invented a doohickey that makes it possible for Dr. Manhattan to exist as Calvin, a stable and supportive husband and father with no memory of his life as Jon Osterman, who can live out those 10 years as something close to a human being. 2019 December 8, Scott Tobias, “‘Watchmen’ Season 1, Episode 8 Recap: Chicken or Egg?”, in The New York Times:

Forms

Synonyms

gismo · doodah · wossname · thingymabob · rigamajig · whatdyecallem · whatchacallit · dealy · thingumajig · frobnitz · dohickey · doohickus · joint · wossisname · wotsit · dingus · widget · thingumabob · thingamajiggy · hootenanny · doovalacky · oojamaflip · dealie · doodad · foobar · jawn · thingummabob · ting · thingmabob · gingumbob · thingamajigger · thingamabob · thingummajig · geegaw · whatsitsname · frammis · thingo · whatsaname · stuff · gubbins · Sorted alphabetically · doohinkey · MacGuffin · whosiewhatsit · thingum · doober · jobber · whatchamacallit · hodad · Sorted by number of Google hits · doojigger · doofer · whatchamahoozie · doohickey · thingmy · whosit · chingadera · kludge · doohinkus · junk · foo · shebang · thingie · whatnot · kajigger · thingummyjig · whachamacallit · thingy · whaddayacallit · gewgaw · thingmajig · yoke · jobby · whachacallit · jigger · bazinga · yokibus · whiff-whaff · dojigger · gadget · doo-hickey · thingymajig · whatdoyoucallit · dongle · thingamabobber · whatsit · affair · jimbang · hickey · bizzo · dinglehopper · thing · gimmick · thingummy · thingamafuck · thingamajig · gingambob · thingabob · gizmo · whatsis

Translations (38)

hu valamicsoda (a thing) · fa چیز (a thing) · fi vekotin (a thing) · sv tingest (a thing) · sv pryl (a thing) · it coso (a thing) · tpi samting (a thing) · sv sak (a thing) · hu izé (a thing) · sv manick (a thing) · hu bigyó (a thing) · fr truc (a thing) · de Dingsbums (a thing) · pl wihajster (a thing) · sh stvarčica (a thing) · eo umo (a thing) · fi vehje (a thing) · de Dingsda (a thing) · pt trambolho (a thing) · sv ting (a thing) · hu hogyishívják (a thing) · pt coisa (a thing) · pt treco (a thing) · sv mojäng (a thing) · pt trem (a thing) · pt negócio (a thing) · hu hogyhívják (a thing) · fi hilavitkutin (a thing) · fr machin (a thing) · tr zımbırtı (a thing) · mi mea (a thing) · ru штуко́вина (a thing) · hu micsoda (a thing) · pt troço (a thing) · nl dinges (a thing) · sv grunka (a thing) · sv mackapär (a thing) · hu bizbasz (a thing)