Origin of the word "Gizmo" (was Origin of the word "Tantrum")

Mullins, Bill AMRDEC Bill.Mullins at US.ARMY.MIL
Tue Nov 28 23:40:54 UTC 2006


N'archive has "Gizmo sandwich" back to 1956.


>
> I haven't a clue about the etymology of "gizmo," but I wonder
> if anyone else (Barry, particularly) has ever encountered it
> as a food term? In eastern Pensylvania, perhaps in
> Philadelphia and associated New Jersey, too, a "gizmo" was a
> sandwich shop item, half hamburger and half ham sandwich --
> or maybe I should say whole hamburger and whole ham sandwich,
> but what I really mean is equal parts hamburger and ham
> sandwich. I decided after I ate my first and only one, that
> it was meant for those who couldn't get enough meat or salt
> from any other sandwich on offer.
>
> Michael
>

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