doodad Chiefly U.S.
(ˈduːdæd)
[Origin unknown; ? cf. dad n.2 2.]
A ‘fancy’ article (of dress), a ‘thingummy’; esp. a trivial or superfluous ornament.
| 1905, 1912 in H. Wentworth Amer. Dial. Dict. (1944) 173/2 1920 S. Lewis Main Street xxiv. 298 Have a nice square house, and pay more attention to getting a crackajack furnace than all this architecture and doodads. 1928 Daily Express 24 July 8/4 Men detest flounces...‘More fakements and doodads! Why on earth cannot the woman keep things simple?’ 1934 J. O'Hara Appointment in Samarra (1935) ii. 40 Decorated with Santa Claus and holly doo-dads. 1961 Guardian 29 Mar. 9/7 Houses with a drop of the old half timbering and the old Georgian doodads. 1966 D. Enefer Painted Death viii. 76 An open lacquered box with hair clips and other doodads. |