Dictionary

whatnot en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈwʌt.nɑt/ (US)
• /ˈʍʌt.nɑt/ (US)
• /ˈwɒt.nɒt/ (UK)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *kʷ- Proto-Indo-European *kʷís Proto-Germanic *hwat Proto-West Germanic *hwat Old English hwæt Middle English what English what Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Germanic *ne Proto-West Germanic *ne Proto-Indo-European *h₂ey- Proto-Indo-European *-u Proto-Indo-European *h₂óyu Proto-Indo-European *-osinflu. Proto-Germanic *aiwaz Proto-West Germanic *aiw univ. Proto-West Germanic *naiw Proto-Indo-European *wekʷ- Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *wékʷtisder.? Proto-Indo-European *weǵʰ- Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *wéǵʰtisder.? Proto-Germanic *wihtą Proto-West Germanic *wiht Proto-West Germanic *naiwwiht Old English nāwiht Old English *nōht Middle English nought Middle English not English not English whatnot From what + not.

Meanings

1. (countable) A small unspecified object; bric-a-brac (in plural).
   • Storage boxes—catchalls for flotsam, jetsam, whatnots and thingamajigs—are gaining new interest as decorative objects for the home. 1991 May 30, Emily Gwathmey, “Storage Box: Catchall's New Life as Eye-Catcher”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 14 Dec 2024:
   • Do not be distracted by the various novelty bags and whatnots of which Chanel is so fond; instead, prove your aforementioned sensible credentials by buying a boxy rectangular quilted shoulder bag with a chain strap, in black, ideally. 2010 December 20, Hadley Freeman, “Blowing your bonus on a Chanel bag could be the most sensible purchase you'll make this Christmas”, in The Guardian, →ISSN, archived from the original on 01 Dec 2025:
2. (qualifier:set phrase, uncountable) Other related objects or ideas.
   • At the lexicography club, we welcome all discussion of words and whatnot.
   • You call that a warrior? My Cobrot's engines will whip the Troopers into whatnot! She is all cobra! [1994 October 5, Haim Saban, Shuki Levy, “Kaitlin's Front Page”, in VR Troopers, season 1, episode 17, Colonel Icebot (actor), Saban Entertainment:
   • All of the cakes and whatnot have been laid out, ready for the children's birthday party this afternoon.
   • Now, those are valid frustrations, although as a quick side note, “Murder and Whatnot” would be an amazing CSI spin-off. That’s a watchable show right there. [2016 October 2, Tim Carvell, Josh Gondelman, Dan Gurewitch, Jeff Maurer, Ben Silva, Will Tracy, Jill Twiss, Seena Vali, Julie Weiner, “Police Accountability”, in Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, season 3, episode 24, John Oliver (actor), Warner Bros. Television, via HBO:
3. A freestanding set of shelves on which ornaments are displayed; an etagere.
   • On a whatnot in a corner which had been devoted to the child's belongings were Franky's paint-box and some of his toys. 1913, Mary E. Mann, Mrs. Day's Daughters, Hodder & Stoughton:
   • Herbert[…] made an elaborate inspection of the chimney-piece, the whatnot, the piano-top. 1923, Elizabeth Bowen, “The Lover”, in Encounters, page 119:
   • These hefty features were on display together with dry-point engravings, marble busts, and mahogany whatnots, which the guests now squeezed between, plumping themselves down on over-stuffed ottomans beneath gleaming crystal electroliers. 2015 July 26, Will Self, “Original short story: Architectural Salvage, by Will Self”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

Forms

Deriveds

and whatnot

Relateds

whatsit

Translations (13)

es cantinela (other related objects or ideas) · fi sen sellainen (other related objects or ideas) · sh šta sve ne (other related objects or ideas) · fi etasääri (etagere) · fi mikälie (other related objects or ideas) · fr étagère (etagere) · sv etagär (etagere) · hu miegymás (other related objects or ideas) · ru этаже́рка (etagere) · fi avohyllykkö (etagere) · ru про́чее (other related objects or ideas) · pl etażerka (etagere) · io etajero (etagere)