It's tenon, not tendon

the List

John K Jordan

My good friend Joe recently sent me a photo of a list he had made over 30 years ago of names we used for "things" when working together. (We worked on a lot of, er, very interesting projects.) He actually wrote these down on a 3x5 index card and kept it all this time. On the list:

thingamabob

thingamajig

thingy

doohicky

domeschatcher

doodad

dooflammy

flammydoo

flochet

flotchet

watchamacalalit

whatsit

wotsit

widget

jigger

gadget

gizmo

gizhotch

gubbins

(wait, "gubbins"? I don't remember that one)

Notice that "thingie" is not on the list. We were too sophisticated for that.

I do think a complimentary place on the List should be awarded to the name we used since the '70s for, while not exactly a "thing", the one substance that would guarantee the success of our latest idea or research project, if only we could just get our hands on some: unobtainium

We could have used that so many times. We added it to a periodic chart but it didn't help.

JKJ

Re: the List

Jim Barbour

For those of us who have spent time around a campfire, unobtanium is what they make left handed smoke shifters from.

Re: A spigot is a plumbing fixture!

mike mills

But only if it is outside.

Inside the house it is a faucet.

Maybe tenons, spigots, recesses, and rebates depend on whether you turn in a studio, work shop, or shed.

Oh.....there's others.......

Pete in Holland MI

Silicone (with a long "O") - - the caulking stuff

Silicon (with a short "O") - - what computer chips are made of.

Pindle / pedal / pinto hitch on a trailer

Beaver tail trailer - - has the angled tail end

Dove tail trailer - - this is a drawer joint

Morris taper drill

Re: Ditto

mikeee12345

I like it when they emphasize their vague description with..."You Know" that thing that goes in and out.

If "I knew", I wouldn't have that puzzled look on my face!

You Know!

Re: It's tenon, not tendon

lyle jamieson

A little late to the party but my pet peeve is

Axis

Axes (also plural for ax, not with a long "E")

Axeez

Axesis

Axises

Axi

Dont get me going on Multi-axis.

Re: It's tenon, not tendon

Jim Barbour

How about Multi-Axes, as in what a well equipped logging operation has? Or, in my neck of the woods "I axed him a question"?

Re: It's tenon, not tendon

Alan Zenreich

Ah, but axes is a legitimate plural for axis... so I guess you'll have to get going!