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snaphaunce

[snap-hans, -hahns]

noun

an early flintlock mechanism for igniting a charge of gunpowder in a gun.

Origin:
1580–90; < Dutch snaphaan (or German Schnapphahn) orig., highwayman, equivalent to snap(pen) to snatch, snap + haan rooster (Dutch haan, German Hahn, parallel to cock¹, mean both “rooster” and “hammer of a firearm”); source of final s unclear

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Snaphaunce is always a great word to know.

So is doohickey. Does it mean:

a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.

a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.

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