From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
widget
n 1: something unspecified whose name is either forgotten or not
known; "she eased the ball-shaped doodad back into its
socket"; "there may be some great new gizmo around the
corner that you will want to use" [syn: {doodad},
{doohickey}, {doojigger}, {gimmick}, {gizmo}, {gismo},
{gubbins}, {thingamabob}, {thingumabob}, {thingmabob},
{thingamajig}, {thingumajig}, {thingmajig}, {thingummy},
{whatchamacallit}, {whatchamacallum}, {whatsis}, {widget}]
2: a device or control that is very useful for a particular job
[syn: {appliance}, {contraption}, {contrivance},
{convenience}, {gadget}, {gizmo}, {gismo}, {widget}]
From The Jargon File (version 4.4.7, 29 Dec 2003) [jargon]:
widget
n.
1. A meta-thing. Used to stand for a real object in didactic examples
(especially database tutorials). Legend has it that the original widgets
were holders for buggy whips. ?But suppose the parts list for a widget has
52 entries....?
2. [poss.: evoking ?window gadget?] A user interface object in {X}
graphical user interfaces.
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