OT: Highly flexible definitions

The word is almost only used by journalism majors when they encounter something they don't understand. They use it a lot.

John

agglomeration ("a jumbled collection or mass")

lashup ("A crude improvisation or bodged effort")

contrivance, fabrication, asssemblage, duhvelopment

Also see which lists 60 words and with a few more, like doodad, gadget, gismo, whatsis, thingamabob, etc.

If it looks even vaguely like any of the following, you probably could call it that, innocently enough ... briar patch, tumbleweed, toilet brush, scare-crow

From thesaurus.com:

"Rube Goldberg device, apparatus, appliance, contrivance, doohickey, gadget, gizmo, machine, mechanism, rig, thingamajig, widget apparatus, accoutrement, appliance, black box, device, dingbat, doodad, doohickey, furnishings, gaff, gear, gimcrack, gimmick, grabber, habiliments, idiot box, implement, jigger, job*, machine, machinery, means, mechanism, outfit, paraphernalia, provisions, setup, stuff, supplies, tackle, thingamajig, tools, utensils, whatchamacallit, whatsis, whosis, widget"

--Winston

Held together with chewing gum and baling wire?

Best regards, Spehro Pefhany

Lets see if I can "cobble together" a term or two.

A "rig" is usually a collection of parts that works.

"Parts temporarily flighting in close formation" is sometimes said of aircraft.

"A collection of patches" is sometimes used for software.

"A waste of good bolts" is used for things that are useless.

The shop of "Mr. Hacket, Botchet and Bendit" gets the blame for some things.

Well spotted. Techies tend to use "gizmo" for complicated pretty things and 'kludge' for ugly ones.

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

Sure, but we understand them.

John

Google "turbo encabulator" for a wealth of ideas. Art

Looks like we have a winner!! Scarecrow should do nicely.

And it sort of looks like one too.... Just replace the straw with coax! :)

Thanks.

"Contrivance"? Contraptions are mechanical, contrivancescan be lashed up in a variety of of environements.

-- Bill Sloman, Nijmegen

No, that's "klooge," with the long "oo", as in "rouge." What you've written rhymes with "sludge," and doesn't mean anything at all.

Hope This Helps! Rich

"Chinese cluster-f*ck?"

Cheers! Rich

It rhymes with "luge", "centrifuge" and "rouge".

You're right about the pronunciation, but a dictionary and Wikipedia give only "kludge" and "kluge" as possible spellings. Wikipedia seems to limit the word to stuff that is inelegant, but which works, which may not be what the OP was after.

Well, technically, German..., but I get your point. I thought of "clusterfuck" alone. It's a good fit too, but sadly, it's not one you can write in a report and expect people to take you seriously.

...except that is, for the folks who have actually been-there, done- that. Of course, they're the same bunch who have enough sense to stay clear and/or run for the door! :)

If its an antenna array, odds are that its primary raw material IS baling wire.

Hodge Podge

paraphernalia, Seems appropriate. But might imply the person is on drugs ;)

Cheers

Also "retro encabulator"