A small mechanical part or gadget; often used in plural as 'gubbins' to refer to miscellaneous items or technical equipment.
British slang, possibly derived from 'gob' (mouth) or Yiddish origins. The term became popular in mid-20th century British English to describe unidentified mechanical parts.
British mechanics used 'gubbin' for parts they couldn't remember the real names for—it's the ultimate lazy word, letting you talk about things while having no idea what they actually are!
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