dingus
/ˈdɪŋəs
/(South African also dinges pronounced same)
noun (plural dinguses) North American & South African informal
Used to refer to something one cannot or does not wish to name specifically.Whenever you feel the urge to know more about a dingus or purchase a doodad that does everything, just visit a kindergarten nearby and ask the little tikes how to have fun....
- I never think about the little plastic dinguses at the bottom of the drape-cords in my room, until I pull them and remember that they're original.
- Grilled a marinated pork dingus for supper - it's this boneless flaccid tube of pork in a plastic sleeve, soaked in brine and pepper and various other powders.
Origin
Late 19th century: via Afrikaans from Dutch ding 'thing'.
There are many words for something one cannot name or remember such as thingamabob (mid 18th century) or more simply thingy (late 18th century). Dingus is made on the same pattern, being a South African adoption from Afrikaans ding ‘thing’.