Gadget
/ˈɡædʒɪt/noun
A small mechanical device or tool, especially one with a novel or clever design.
Did you know?The exact origin of English gadget is uncertain, but it first appears in 19th-century jargon and may have spread through sailors’ and metalworkers’ slang before becoming a word for clever little devices.
Etymological Timeline
19th Century
English
gadget
“A small object or contrivance, often with a specialized use; slangy and informal.”
Late 19th Century
English
gadget
“A mechanical contrivance, especially one whose name the speaker does not know or does not want to specify.”
Possible Source: 19th Century
French
gâchette
“A trigger or catch; one proposed source in older speculation, though not securely established.”
Possible Source: 19th Century
French/English slang
gadget
“A term of uncertain origin that may have circulated in technical and seafaring speech.”
Modern English
English
gadget
“A small electronic or mechanical device, often marketed as innovative or useful.”