- For other uses, see Widget (disambiguation)
A widget is a placeholder name for an object or, more specifically, a mechanical or other manufactured device. It is an abstract unit of production.[1] The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as "An indefinite name for a gadget or mechanical contrivance, esp. a small manufactured item" and dates this use back to 1931; but the term appears in George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart's 1924 play "Beggar on Horseback"[2]. It states that the origin is "perhaps U.S." and for etymology suggests that it may be a variant of gadget.[3]
In law, when discussing a hypothetical situation the term is used to represent any type of personal property, with the corresponding term Blackacre used to represent any type of real property. In such use, the widget or Blackacre has whatever characteristics are relevant to the scenario. So, if the object being discussed needs to be a liquid, then the widget is liquid. If it needs to be solid, light, heavy, manufactured, naturally-occurring or whatever, the widget has the necessary characteristics.
Usage
"Widget" is used in texts and speech, especially in the context of economics or law, to indicate a hypothetical "any-product." Companies in such texts will frequently be given names such as "ABC Widgets" or "Acme Widget Corp." to indicate that the particular business of the hypothetical company is not relevant to the topic of discussion.[4]
See also
References
- ^ Widget, Econmodel, 2008, accessed 13 November 2008 from http://www.econmodel.com/classic/terms/widget.htm
- ^ John Gassner, ed., Twenty-Five Best Plays of the Modern American Theatre, First Series, p. 143.
- ^ "Oxford English Dictionary" (available online to subscribers, also published in print). http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/50285336?single=1&query_type=word&queryword=widget&first=1&max_to_show=10. Retrieved 2009-03-29.
- ^ Paul Levine and Peter Burgess. "Bankruptcy preferences: cashing the check may not be the end of the story" bizjournals.com; April 19, 2002
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