dingus

[ ding-guhs ]

noun

, Informal.

, plural ding·us·es.

1. a gadget, device, or object whose name is unknown or forgotten:

   We're missing the little dingus that makes the cable work.

2. a foolish, stupid, or inept person; doofus:

   I'm a complete dingus when it comes to math.

Word History and Origins

Origin of dingus¹

First recorded in 1870–75; from Dutch dinges or its source, German Dinges, probably originally genitive, with partitive value, of Ding thing ¹

Example Sentences

The whistles high frequency waves also awakened Cerberus, the three-headed watch dog, besides actuating The Dingus.

From Project Gutenberg

Rosalie give him a pearl dingus to wear in his cravat, an' derned ef he don't have to wear a collar all the time now.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a new kind of a silver dingus, with two handles to it, for getting a lump of sugar into your tea.

From Project Gutenberg

Miss Dingus looked at the small, sandy haired girl with astonishment.

From Project Gutenberg

And they think you were eccentric in furnishing this room—they think the broad couch and that Japanese dingus are absurd.

From Project Gutenberg