The Whatchamacallit: Those Everyday Objects You Just Can't Name (and Things You Think You Know About, But Don't)

They're things we see, touch, and use every day. They're between our fingers and under our noses — and yet we have absolutely no idea what they're called. Until now. In The Whatchamacallit, authors Danny Danziger and Mark McCrum have assembled an impressive — and fun — collection of terms (all true) for things we never really knew the names of. Filled with fascinating digressions and humorous asides, it transforms readers into people who always know the right word for everything — knowledge they'll use in an understated and discreet sort of way, of course. From architrave to zuchetto, The Whatchamacallit covers the flotsam and jetsam of everyday life. Whimsical and informative, with charming illustrations throughout, it offers hours of fun for anyone who just likes to know stuff.

That would be an aglet.1
You got it: caruncula.2
It's a zarf, of course.3

--Anonymous

The world is full of whatchamacallits - things we ought to know the names for, might even think we know the names for, but when it comes down to it, don't know the names for. That's where The Whatchamacallit comes in. A fun and witty companion to daily life, The Whatchamacallit provides the proper names for more than 100 elusive thingamajigs and doohickeys, complete with the histories, myths, and anecdotes behind them.

The entries collected here are not extraordinary, nor are they the unlikely objects used by specialists or experts. The whatchamacallits in these pages are things that we see, touch, use, or think about every day. Objects that are between our fingers and under our noses--and yet we cannot put a name to them. From achenes to zucchetto, from bobeche to vibrissae, The Whatchamacallit covers the flotsam and jetsum of daily existence. Whimsical, informative, and just plain smart, this useful compendium offers hours of enjoyment for anyone who just likes to know stuff.

The Whatchamacallit will transform you from someone who is occasionally at a loss for words to that far more dynamic person who--in an understated and discreet way--always knows the right word for everything.