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| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
| Main Entry: | McGuffin |
| Part of Speech: | n |
| Definition: | in film, a plot device that has no specific meaning or purpose other than to advance the story; any situation that motivates the action of a film either artificially or substantively; also written MacGuffin |
| Etymology: | Alfred Hitchcock's term, based on a story where this device was used in a story set on a Scottish train |