whatsitn.
/ˈwɒtsɪt//ˈhwɒtsɪt/ colloquial.
= what's-his-name n., what's-its-name n. at what's-his-name n. Derivatives, etc. (used variously of a person or thing); a ‘thingummy’.
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
a1882 Philad. Times in Dict. Americanisms (1951) II. 1855/1 The two negro girls, who figure as ‘what-is-its’, are paid $200 a week.
1898 J. D. Brayshaw Slum Silhouettes 158 ‘Now,’ said Joe, ‘who says pudden? Mister What's It—a little piece?’
1922 S. Lewis Babbitt vi. 77 He's a what-is-it from Columbia.
1931 Kansas City Times 29 Sept. A Whassit. Excitement..Friday afternoon was caused by the appearance of an insect which [etc.].
1954 P. Frankau Wreath for Enemy iii. v. 215 I couldn't even walk along the passage to the whatsit.
1979 P. Alexander Show me Hero xvii. 178 Suddenly you're a man. Not just because you happen to have a couple of whatsits, but because you feel it.
1984 B. Francis AA Car Duffer's Guide 14 Do you think I ought to check the strength of the whatsit—electrolyte—while I'm at it?
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1986; most recently modified version published online March 2019).
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n.a1882