what-is-it \ ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷\noun orwhat·sis\ˈ(h)wätsə̇s, -wət-, -wȯt-\; orwhat·sit\-tsə̇t\ Etymology:what-is-it from the expression what is it; whatsis perhaps alteration of the expression what's this; whatsit perhaps from the expression what's it : a thing of unspecified, nondescript, or mysterious character < took a little what-is-it out of the toolbox and used it to fix the lamp >