Small mechanical or electronic devices or tools, especially ingenious or novel ones. Devices designed for a particular purpose, often compact and clever in design.
Origin uncertain, possibly from French 'gâchette' (trigger) or 'gadget' (tool). First recorded in English in 1886 in nautical slang, referring to any mechanical device whose proper name was forgotten or unknown.
The word 'gadget' was originally sailors' slang for 'that thingy whose name I can't remember'! It perfectly captures how we feel about many modern devices - we know they're useful, but we're not quite sure what to call them or how they work.
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