Next Question
Mahalo is adding a tip to all questions that don't offer a tip.
M¢25 Funded By Mahalo ? |
June 18, 2009 04:22 AM
RSS
The first documented use of the word "widget" appears to have been in the 1924 play "Beggar on Horseback," in which it meant a nonspecific and possibly nonexistent manufactured object:
http://www.yaelf.com/aueFAQ/mifwdgtntsbywllmcw.shtml
Your law professor's definition matches a definition from Wiktionary ("a small scraping tool consisting of a blade and a handle, commonly used to remove paint from glass and other smooth surfaces"), but the origin of this usage is not given:
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Widget
"Widget" has come to mean any small manufactured object or device, synonymous with gizmo, thingamajig, etc. It can also mean a small device in beer cans and bottles designed to generate the foamy "head" on a poured glass of beer. More recently, it refers to a short computer program which can be embedded in and executed from any web page.
Source(s):
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/widget
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/widget
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Widget
http://www.onelook.com/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/bware/dofind.cgi?word=widget
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_widget
Permalink | Report
he used to clean away old caulking in the grooved area
before replacing window glass.
I have a 60 yard old dictionary about 9" thick, it was not in there..
Maybe your Prof. better come up with a source when this is all over!!
FROM THE WEB:
widget (plural widgets)
5. A small scraping tool consisting of a blade and a handle, commonly used to remove paint from glass and other smooth surfaces
BUY ONE HERE:
http://americangaminginc.com/products/products.asp?CategoryId=1774&ItemId=71675
Etymology (not strongly proved)
Blend of window and gadget, coined by George S. Kaufman in his play Beggar on Horseback (1924)
It is believed the word widget preceded this play.
Source(s):
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/widget
Permalink | Report
beth2384
Answered Question
Mahalo is adding a tip to all questions that don't offer a tip.
What is a widget?
One of my Law Professors challenged us to find out what this is. The only clues he gave us was that it is a small metal tool. He said that I came the closest by saying that it was a tool used to scrap paint off a window, but he never actually said what it was.
Interesting Question?
Yes (0)
No (0)
- In Maintenance & Repairs |
- |
- Report |
-
Share
RSS
Best Answer Chosen by Asker
| June 18, 2009 08:02 AM |
http://www.yaelf.com/aueFAQ/mifwdgtntsbywllmcw.shtml
Your law professor's definition matches a definition from Wiktionary ("a small scraping tool consisting of a blade and a handle, commonly used to remove paint from glass and other smooth surfaces"), but the origin of this usage is not given:
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Widget
"Widget" has come to mean any small manufactured object or device, synonymous with gizmo, thingamajig, etc. It can also mean a small device in beer cans and bottles designed to generate the foamy "head" on a poured glass of beer. More recently, it refers to a short computer program which can be embedded in and executed from any web page.
Source(s):
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/widget
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/widget
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Widget
http://www.onelook.com/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/bware/dofind.cgi?word=widget
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_widget
| Asker's Rating: |
Permalink | Report
Reply
Other Answers (1)
June 18, 2009 05:27 AM
My dad had a bladed tool he called a widget (wedget) he used to clean away old caulking in the grooved area
before replacing window glass.
I have a 60 yard old dictionary about 9" thick, it was not in there..
Maybe your Prof. better come up with a source when this is all over!!
FROM THE WEB:
widget (plural widgets)
5. A small scraping tool consisting of a blade and a handle, commonly used to remove paint from glass and other smooth surfaces
BUY ONE HERE:
http://americangaminginc.com/products/products.asp?CategoryId=1774&ItemId=71675
Etymology (not strongly proved)
Blend of window and gadget, coined by George S. Kaufman in his play Beggar on Horseback (1924)
It is believed the word widget preceded this play.
Source(s):
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/widget
Permalink | Report
Reply
beth2384
June 18, 2009 05:39 AM
Do you know of any other tools that could be a widget? You don't know how long this has been driving me crazy. He would tell us the answer and he's not at the college anymore.
Tip beth2384 for this comment
Report
June 18, 2009 05:43 AM
I spent a long time searching on this one..Sat out in the Studio looking through that old dictionary for every possible spelling of the sound. nothing. I think maybe your Prof. was referencing a family use of the word or something equally unreliable. Hunt him down and accuse him of putting a curse on you ..lol.. or giving you post traumatic stress. and demand he tell you what he had in mind.
Report
Answer this Question
Related Questions
Ask a Question
Buy Mahalo Dollars with Credit Card or PayPal
Top Members
Most Popular Tags
Categories
- Anonymous
-
Arts & Design
-
Beauty & Style
-
Books & Authors
-
Business
-
Cars & Transportation
-
Consumer Electronics
- Coupons Deals
-
Education
-
Entertainment
-
Environment
-
Fitness
-
Food & Drink
- From Email
- From Iphone
- From Twitter
-
Health
-
History
-
Hobbies
-
Home & Garden
-
How Tos
-
Humor
-
Jobs
-
Legal
-
Local
-
Love & Relationships
-
Mahalo Answers Community
-
Money
-
Music
-
News
-
NSFW
-
Parenting
-
Pets
-
Science & Mathematics
-
Services
-
Shopping
-
Social Science
-
Society & Culture
-
Sports
-
Technology & Internet
-
Travel
-
Video Games
Welcome New Members
- jaimebowerswelc..., December 17, 2009 04:24 AM
- lingolux, December 17, 2009 04:18 AM
- jofalu, December 17, 2009 04:18 AM
- dolordeguzman, December 17, 2009 04:16 AM
- irisharmywife, December 17, 2009 04:15 AM
Mahalo Dollars are the currency of Mahalo Answers.
Each Mahalo Dollar costs $1.
Once you earn more than 40 Mahalo Dollars, you can request to be paid via PayPal. Each Mahalo Dollar is currently worth $0.75 when paid out via PayPal. Learn More
