Widget
/ˈwɪdʒɪt/noun
A small gadget or mechanical device, especially one whose exact name is unknown or unimportant.
Did you know?“Widget” is a classic made-up industrial-age placeholder word, first popularized in the early 20th century, and its exact origin is uncertain—proof that some everyday words begin as pure linguistic smoke.
Etymological Timeline
Early 20th Century
English
widget
“A placeholder name for an object, especially a small manufactured device or part.”
1930s
English
widget
“A generic term in factory and business jargon for an unspecified product or component.”
Modern English
English
widget
“A small gadget or mechanical device, especially one whose exact name is unknown or unimportant.”
20th Century
English
widget
“A word used in economics and manufacturing examples as a stand-in for a typical product.”
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