doohickeyn.
/ˈduːhɪki/ colloquial (originally and chiefly U.S.).
Any small object, esp. mechanical; a ‘thingummy’ (see also quot. 1928).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > naming > anonymity or lack of a name > [noun] > thing or person whose name is forgotten or unknown
swilk and swilkc1175
thinga1325
what-call-ye-him1473
who knows what?1548
I don't know (also I know not, I wot not) what1568
God (also (the) Lord) knows (also wot) what1569
washical1575
what-d'ye-call-'em1593
so-and-so1596
whiblin1604
so-fortha1616
jiggumboba1625
know-not-whata1642
thingum1652
thingum-thangum1684
what's-his-name1697
something or other1706
thingummy1737
thingamabob1751
something1764
what's-her-name1816
conundrum1817
thingamerry1819
thingamajig1824
somebody1825
what's-its-name1839
whangdoodle1852
thingummytite1865
dingus1866
what-not1876
whatsita1882
gilguy1883
gadget1886
dingbat1894
doohickey1914
oojah1917
oojah capivvy1917
oojiboo1918
doodad1920
tiddlypush1923
whosis1923
thingy1927
doodah1928
doofer1937
hootenanny1940
whatchamacallit1942
gizmo1943
frammis1948
whosit1948
whifflow1961
oobyjiver1963
whatsisface1967
oojamaflip1970
what's-her-face1980
1914 Our Navy (U.S.) Nov. 12 We were compelled to christen articles beyond our ken with such names as ‘do-hickeys’, ‘gadgets’ and ‘gilguys’.
1925 E. Fraser & J. Gibbons Soldier & Sailor Words 81 Doo hicky, an airman's term for any small, detachable fitting.
1928 Sunday Disp. 30 Sept. 10/2 He offered to run me down in the old doohicky—his latest, though second-hand car.
1949 R. Chandler Little Sister vii. 45 A pencil..broke its point on the glass doohickey under one of the desk legs.
1967 A. Lurie Imaginary Friends iv. 44 Just unhitch that dohickey there with a wrench.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1972; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
<
n.1914