- Today's Word
Gizmo
[GIZ-moh]
Definition
- (noun) A gadget or device, especially one whose name the speaker doesn’t know or can’t recall. It’s often used to refer to a small, clever, or unusual mechanical or electronic device.
Example
My grandfather always has some new gizmo in his workshop; this time it’s a contraption that automatically sorts screws by size.
Fun Fact
The origin of “gizmo” is uncertain, but it first appeared in American English around 1943. It’s believed to have possibly originated in the military or aviation sectors during World War II, where it was used as a catch-all term for unspecified parts or devices. The word gained wider popularity in the 1960s and 1970s with the rise of consumer electronics. Interestingly, “gizmo” has cousins in other languages, such as the French “machin” or the German “Dingsbums,” which serve similar linguistic functions as placeholder names for unnamed objects.
(verb) To obtain something by persuasion, scheming, or clever manipulation.
He managed to wangle an invitation to the exclusive event through a friend of a friend.
Late 19th century: originally printers’ slang, possibly an alteration of “waggle” meaning “to move unsteadily,” suggesting indirect or roundabout methods.