doohickey
A "doohickey" is a slang term for an object whose name you don’t know or can’t recall. It’s a catch-all word for a gadget, thingamajig, or whatchamacallit. Common across America, it’s especially lively in Southern and Appalachian talk.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I grew up hearin' and saying' 'doohickey', but a couple counties over people don't know what I'm sayin'. So this could be more regional in the south. Pronunciation
[DOO-hih-kee]
Meaning & Usage
- An unnamed or unknown object (noun)
Mae:
What’s this piece called?
What’s this piece called?
Earl:
I don’t know - just a doohickey.
I don’t know - just a doohickey.- A gadget or small mechanical part (noun, informal)
Mae:
It won’t start.
It won’t start.
Earl:
Might be that little doohickey under the hood.
Might be that little doohickey under the hood.★ "Doohickey" is handy when you forget the right word or don’t know it. It adds humor and keeps the conversation rolling. ★
Origin
First recorded in the early 1900s, "doohickey" likely grew out of playful, nonsense words used in American English. It spread quickly in rural slang, especially in the South and Appalachia, where folks often improvise colorful placeholders for unknown objects.
Notes
Still common in Southern and Appalachian speech, though recognized nationwide. Often used in workshops, kitchens, or storytelling when the exact name of a gadget isn’t handy.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "doo-hick-ee." Drawn out in country speech: "doo-hick-eh."