Comments on: ‘Doodad’ – what’s the origin of the word?

By: Charles Broming

Charles Broming — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 19:29:00 +0000

In reply to Daphne Gray-Grant. I was just having some fun with those terms. The mispronunciation "thing" is embarrassing, indeed! If I've never heard pronounced a word I've read and know the meaning(s) of, I'll mispronunce it, certainly (if I haven't looked at the dictionary pronounciation).

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 18:29:00 +0000

In reply to Charles Broming. It's interesting how we often make up our own definitions for terms, isn't it. I sometimes even (inadvertently) make up my own pronunciation. That can get rather embarrassing!

By: Charles Broming

Charles Broming — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 13:56:00 +0000

Gee, I always thought a doodad was a gizmo without any practical use.

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 18:37:00 +0000

In reply to Russ Skinner. And now that ear worm is officially in MY brain, too! Thanks, Russ...

By: Russ Skinner

Russ Skinner — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 16:12:00 +0000

Since I have the OED on my phone, I thought I would see what it might show. It says “doodad” is the North American term for “doodah,” which in turn is cited as perhaps from the refrain of the song “Camptown Races.” Not sure if that’s true, but I can’t get the song out of my head, so I thought I would share