Dealybob

[Michael Quinion]

Writing World Wide Words is both educational and frustrating. A
subscriber asks about the meaning and origin of "dealybob". I assume
from context that it's one of those hand-waving terms for something
small whose name one can't quite recall, like thingummy or doohickey,
but does anyone have any information on its age or origin?
--
Michael Quinion
Editor, World Wide Words
E-mail: <TheEditor at worldwidewords.org>
Web: <http://www.worldwidewords.org/>