widget en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- /ˈwɪd͡ʒ.ɪt/ (Received-Pronunciation, US)
- (US) audio
Etymology
Coined by American playwright George S. Kaufman in 1924 in his play Beggar on Horseback (1924). The preface to the 1924 play credits an earlier German work from 1911 where there is an actor Elisabeth Wigge.
Meanings
-
A placeholder name for an unnamed, unspecified, or hypothetical manufactured good or product, typically as an example for purposes of explaining concepts.
Suppose we have a widget factory that produces 100 units per year...
Damage inflicted on the rail industry supply chain, from major contractors to widget manufacturers, would have further profound nationwide consequences on an already damaged industry and wrecked economy.
2020 August 12, Nigel Harris, “Comment: Rail at the brink? Not yet...”, in Rail, page 3:
- A floating device inside a beer can, meant to create foam when opened.
- A small scraping tool consisting of a blade and a handle, commonly used to remove paint from glass and other smooth surfaces.
- (informal) Synonym of tool, implement, device, gadget, part.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| widgets | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Synonyms
thingummabob · jigger · wossisname · dongle · dealy · doohinkus · kludge · gadget · doodah · whachamacallit · doohinkey · part · whatchamacallit · thingy · geegaw · frammis · yokibus · widget · whatsis · whosit · thingamabobber · whatchacallit · thingum · sprocket · whatchamahoozie · rigamajig · whatsit · jobber · thingummy · whiff-whaff · hootenanny · thingumajig · thingummyjig · gubbins · implement · thingummajig · whatnot · tool · dohickey · affair · thingmy · doo-hickey · thingamabob · whatsaname · kajigger · frobnitz · thingo · device · oojamaflip · Sorted by number of Google hits · bizzo · gewgaw · dojigger · jobby · chingadera · gingumbob · thingamafuck · gizmo · gadget · whachacallit · jimbang · hickey · whosiewhatsit · dingus · doohickey · gizmo · doodad · whatsitsname · gimmick · thingamajiggy · thing · bazinga · jawn · joint · thingmabob · wossname · whatdyecallem · thingabob · junk · doovalacky · thingumabob · gingambob · thingmajig · MacGuffin · doojigger · scraper · dinglehopper · Sorted alphabetically · foo · whaddayacallit · ting · thingamajig · whatdoyoucallit · thingymabob · shebang · thingie · gismo · yoke · doohickus · thingy · doober · thingymajig · doofer · wotsit · hodad · stuff · thingamajigger · foobar · dealie
Translations (25)
ga giuirléid (unnamed, unspecified, or hypothetical manufactured good or product) · cs věcička (unnamed, unspecified, or hypothetical manufactured good or product) · cs udělátor (unnamed, unspecified, or hypothetical manufactured good or product) · bg джаджа (unnamed, unspecified, or hypothetical manufactured good or product) · sv manick (unnamed, unspecified, or hypothetical manufactured good or product) · fr spatule (small scraping tool) · nl prul (unnamed, unspecified, or hypothetical manufactured good or product) · fi vempain (unnamed, unspecified, or hypothetical manufactured good or product) · fi härveli (unnamed, unspecified, or hypothetical manufactured good or product) · sv but see exempelprodukt (unnamed, unspecified, or hypothetical manufactured good or product) · bg приспособление (modular software component) · el μαραφέτι (unnamed, unspecified, or hypothetical manufactured good or product) · ro spatula (small scraping tool) · fr camelote (unnamed, unspecified, or hypothetical manufactured good or product) · sv mojäng (unnamed, unspecified, or hypothetical manufactured good or product) · it aggeggio (unnamed, unspecified, or hypothetical manufactured good or product) · fr babiole (unnamed, unspecified, or hypothetical manufactured good or product) · nl dingetje (unnamed, unspecified, or hypothetical manufactured good or product) · fi vekotin (unnamed, unspecified, or hypothetical manufactured good or product) · de Schaber (small scraping tool) · sv pryl (unnamed, unspecified, or hypothetical manufactured good or product) · es espátula (small scraping tool) · cs udělátko (unnamed, unspecified, or hypothetical manufactured good or product) · hu kütyü (unnamed, unspecified, or hypothetical manufactured good or product) · cs škrabka (small scraping tool)