Funny Word Generator With Real Words, Meanings and Dates

Real English words that sound made up, five at a time, each with its part of speech, a plain meaning and, on most cards, a date.

Funny Word Generator With Real Words, Meanings and Dates

  1. yak
  2. swagger
  3. knickknack
  4. flivver
  5. smellfungus
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Funny Word Generator With Real Words, Meanings and Dates: how it works

Every word this funny word generator draws is real English that only sounds made up: kerfuffle, nincompoop, skedaddle. Each of the five cards gives a part of speech and a plain meaning, and 206 of the 300 add a date.

Eight themes, from muddles to odds and ends

Each word sits under one of eight Theme chips, from Muddles and fusses (45 words) to People (28). The Part of speech row combines with it: Moving about plus Verbs leaves 30, skedaddle and vamoose among them. Old insults holds words such as slugabed and fussbudget, which tease a habit or a foolish moment, never a body or a background.

Why these words sound funny

Vaudeville comics held that a k sound gets the laugh, and 63 words here contain a k: kerfuffle, kumquat, skedaddle. More than twenty entries say a sound twice, as a rhyme (hocus-pocus, willy-nilly, okey-dokey) or with the vowel moving from i to a or o (zigzag, flimflam, clip-clop). In a 2015 University of Alberta study, people rated invented words funnier the less likely their letter combinations were.

Tips

  • For charades, choose Moving about, set the size to 1 and act out waddle, sashay or galumph.
  • For a guessing round, press Hide all meanings, read a word aloud, take guesses, then tap the card to check.
  • Typed silly word generator hoping for words that do not exist? The gibberish generator builds those. Every word here is real.

Questions and answers

Are the words from this random funny word generator real?

Yes. All 300 have an English entry on Wiktionary, checked on 19 September 2026, with the part of speech shown on the card. Take gobbledygook: Wiktionary first finds it in a 1944 memo by Maury Maverick, a former US Representative from Texas then running a wartime agency, who seems to have coined it to imitate a turkey.

What does In use by mean on a card?

The earliest firm evidence Wiktionary shows for the meaning on the card: a dated etymology note, a first-use label or the oldest quotation. It is a latest possible date, so a word is often older. Hogwash was in use by the mid-1400s, first for kitchen scraps fed to pigs. The other 94 cards carry no date: the evidence was missing or belonged to another meaning.

Which funny words did writers invent?

Wiktionary credits chortle to Lewis Carroll's poem Jabberwocky, published in 1871, and galumph comes from the same poem. John Milton coined pandemonium as the capital of Hell in Paradise Lost, published in 1667. Edward Lear made up runcible for The Owl and the Pussy-cat, and widget first appears in the 1924 play Beggar on Horseback by George S. Kaufman and Marc Connelly.

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All 300 funny words

Muddles and fusses 45

  • argy-bargy Noun. Noisy arguing. In use by 1857.
  • ballyhoo Noun. Loud, showy fuss meant to draw attention.
  • boondoggle Noun. A pointless project that wastes time and money. In use by 1929.
  • brouhaha Noun. A noisy, overexcited uproar.
  • bumfuzzle Verb. To leave someone thoroughly muddled. In use by the 1800s.
  • cantankerous Adjective. Bad-tempered and quick to argue. In use by 1839.
  • catawampus Adjective. Askew or out of line. In use by 1885.
  • collywobbles Noun. A fluttery stomach brought on by nerves. In use by 1823.
  • conniption Noun. A fit of rage or panic. In use by 1833.
  • discombobulate Verb. To confuse or fluster someone. In use by 1834.
  • fantods Noun. A state of fidgety unease. In use by 1839.
  • flabbergast Verb. To astonish someone utterly. In use by 1772.
  • flummox Verb. To baffle completely. In use by about 1837.
  • foofaraw Noun. A big fuss over a small matter; also showy frills. In use by the 1930s.
  • gallimaufry Noun. A jumble of odds and ends; first a stew of leftovers. In use by 1579.
  • gobsmacked Adjective. So astonished that you cannot speak. In use by 1925.
  • harum-scarum Adjective. Reckless and wild. In use by the late 1600s.
  • haywire Adjective. Out of control or not working properly. In use by about 1905.
  • heebie-jeebies Noun. A feeling of nervous fear. In use by 1923.
  • helter-skelter Adverb. In a wild, disorderly hurry.
  • higgledy-piggledy Adverb. In a messy jumble, with no order at all. In use by about 1598.
  • hodgepodge Noun. A jumble of things that do not match.
  • hubbub Noun. The busy noise of a crowd. In use by the mid-1500s.
  • hullabaloo Noun. A loud, confused fuss. In use by 1844.
  • hurly-burly Noun. Noisy, busy activity. In use by 1550.
  • jamboree Noun. A large, noisy gathering. In use by the 1800s.
  • kaput Adjective. Broken and no longer working.
  • kerfuffle Noun. A fuss or commotion, often over something small. In use by the 1800s.
  • kibosh Noun. A stop put to something, as in put the kibosh on it.
  • mishmash Noun. A confused mix of things. In use by the late 1400s.
  • mulligrubs Noun. A sulky bad mood. In use by the 1500s.
  • omnishambles Noun. A situation that is a mess from every angle. Coined for a British TV comedy. In use by 2009.
  • palaver Noun. Long, fussy talk or bother. In use by the 1700s.
  • pandemonium Noun. Wild, noisy disorder. First the capital of Hell in John Milton's Paradise Lost, 1667.
  • persnickety Adjective. Fussy about tiny details. In use by 1905.
  • razzmatazz Noun. Noisy, showy display. In use by 1888.
  • rigmarole Noun. A long, fussy way of doing something. In use by about 1736.
  • ruckus Noun. A noisy row or commotion. In use by 1890.
  • rumpus Noun. A noisy disturbance. In use by about 1745.
  • shemozzle Noun. A muddle or a row. In use by the late 1800s.
  • shindig Noun. A lively, noisy party. In use by 1861.
  • tizzy Noun. A state of nervous fuss. In use by 1935.
  • topsy-turvy Adverb. Upside down, or in total confusion. In use by 1576.
  • willy-nilly Adverb. Whether you like it or not; also, with no plan.
  • wonky Adjective. Crooked, shaky or not working right. In use by 1932.

Nonsense and tricks 35

  • abracadabra Noun. A magic word, first used in healing charms. In use by the 1500s.
  • bafflegab Noun. Confusing official jargon. In use by 1952.
  • balderdash Noun. Talk or writing that makes no sense at all. In use by 1765.
  • baloney Noun. Nonsense; also a spelling of bologna sausage.
  • bamboozle Verb. To trick or confuse someone.
  • blarney Noun. Charming talk meant to flatter.
  • bunkum Noun. Empty talk meant to please a crowd. In use by the 1820s.
  • claptrap Noun. Showy, empty talk. In use by 1730.
  • codswallop Noun. British slang for nonsense. In use by 1959.
  • fiddle-faddle Noun. Silly talk about nothing that matters. In use by 1679.
  • fiddlesticks Interjection. Said to show that you think something is nonsense. In use by about 1600.
  • flapdoodle Noun. Nonsense; silly talk. In use by 1834.
  • flimflam Noun. A swindle; also nonsense. In use by 1538.
  • folderol Noun. Silly fuss; also a useless trifle. In use by about 1701.
  • gibberish Noun. Speech or writing that makes no sense. In use by the mid-1500s.
  • gobbledygook Noun. Wordy jargon that is hard to follow. In use by 1944.
  • hocus-pocus Noun. A conjurer's chant; trickery meant to distract. In use by 1655.
  • hogwash Noun. Nonsense; first, kitchen scraps fed to pigs. In use by the mid-1400s.
  • hokum Noun. Nonsense; also corny stage business. In use by 1905.
  • hoodwink Verb. To trick someone; first, to blindfold. In use by the mid-1500s.
  • hornswoggle Verb. To cheat or trick someone. In use by 1829.
  • horsefeathers Noun. American slang for nonsense.
  • humbug Noun. A hoax or a fraud; in Britain also a striped mint candy. In use by 1754.
  • jabberwocky Noun. Playful nonsense language. Named after Lewis Carroll's nonsense poem.
  • malarkey Noun. Insincere or foolish talk. In use by the 1920s.
  • monkeyshines Noun. Playful pranks. In use by 1878.
  • piffle Noun. Trivial nonsense. In use by 1847.
  • poppycock Noun. Foolish talk; nonsense.
  • pshaw Interjection. Said to show scorn or disbelief. In use by the late 1600s.
  • runcible Adjective. A nonsense word with no set meaning, coined by Edward Lear for a runcible spoon. In use by 1870.
  • shenanigans Noun. Mischief or sneaky tricks. In use by 1855.
  • skulduggery Noun. Sneaky, dishonest behavior. In use by 1867.
  • taradiddle Noun. A small lie; a fib.
  • tomfoolery Noun. Silly behavior. In use by 1867.
  • twaddle Noun. Silly, empty talk or writing. In use by 1782.

People 28

  • arctophile Noun. A collector of teddy bears. In use by the 1960s.
  • beachcomber Noun. A person who searches beaches for things of value. In use by 1887.
  • bigwig Noun. A person with rank and influence. In use by the 1730s.
  • boffin Noun. A scientist or technical expert. In use by the 1930s.
  • chatterbox Noun. A person who talks a great deal.
  • cruciverbalist Noun. A person who makes or loves crosswords.
  • dogsbody Noun. A person given all the dull jobs; first, navy slang for pease pudding. In use by 1818.
  • funambulist Noun. A tightrope walker.
  • globetrotter Noun. A person who travels widely. In use by 1887.
  • gongoozler Noun. A person who idly watches canal boats go by.
  • gumshoe Noun. Slang for a detective. In use by the early 1900s.
  • haberdasher Noun. A seller of men's clothing or small sewing goods. In use by the 1200s.
  • hobbledehoy Noun. A clumsy, awkward youth, no longer a boy and not yet a man. In use by 1600.
  • landlubber Noun. A person who is not used to the sea or ships.
  • muckety-muck Noun. A self-important bigwig.
  • mugwump Noun. A person who stays independent, above all in politics.
  • panjandrum Noun. A pompous, self-important official. In use by 1755.
  • pooh-bah Noun. A person who holds many offices at once. Named after a character in The Mikado. In use by 1885.
  • prestidigitator Noun. A magician who does tricks with quick fingers.
  • raconteur Noun. A person who tells stories well. In use by 1888.
  • rubberneck Noun. A person who turns to stare at something. In use by the late 1800s.
  • schlimazel Noun. A person with constant bad luck. In use by 1962.
  • somnambulist Noun. A sleepwalker. In use by 1824.
  • spelunker Noun. A person who explores caves. In use by the 1930s.
  • swashbuckler Noun. A swaggering adventurer or swordsman.
  • tenderfoot Noun. A newcomer not used to rough outdoor life. In use by 1866.
  • whippersnapper Noun. A cheeky, overconfident young person. In use by the 1670s.
  • zany Noun. A clown's sidekick in old comedy; now, clownishly odd. In use by 1631.

Old insults 38

  • blabbermouth Noun. A person who cannot keep a secret.
  • blatherskite Noun. A person who talks on and on and says little. In use by the mid-1600s.
  • blowhard Noun. A loud boaster. In use by about 1840.
  • braggadocio Noun. Empty boasting. In use by 1590.
  • butterfingers Noun. A person who keeps dropping things.
  • curmudgeon Noun. A grumpy, stubborn person. In use by the late 1500s.
  • flibbertigibbet Noun. A flighty, chattering person. In use by 1549.
  • fuddy-duddy Noun. A stuffy, old-fashioned person. In use by about 1900.
  • fussbudget Noun. A person who fusses over small things.
  • grumbletonian Noun. An old political nickname for a member of the opposition, built on grumble. In use by 1722.
  • highfalutin Adjective. Pompous and fancy-sounding. In use by about 1839.
  • hoity-toity Adjective. Snobbish and putting on airs.
  • jackanapes Noun. A cheeky, impudent person. In use by 1573.
  • killjoy Noun. A person who spoils other people's fun. In use by 1776.
  • lackadaisical Adjective. Lazy and without enthusiasm. In use by 1822.
  • lickspittle Noun. A person who flatters the powerful to win favor. In use by 1857.
  • mumpsimus Noun. A person who sticks to a mistake after being corrected. In use by 1530.
  • namby-pamby Adjective. Weak and sappy. From Henry Carey's 1725 poem Namby Pamby, which mocked a rival poet.
  • ne'er-do-well Noun. A person who never amounts to much.
  • nincompoop Noun. A person acting in a silly, foolish way. In use by the 1670s.
  • ninnyhammer Noun. An old word for a silly person. In use by 1608.
  • nudnik Noun. A pest or a bore. In use by 1962.
  • pinchpenny Noun. An old word for a miser. In use by 1578.
  • popinjay Noun. A vain, showy talker; first, a word for a parrot. In use by the 1300s.
  • quidnunc Noun. A nosy gossip. In use by 1730.
  • rapscallion Noun. A mischievous rascal.
  • scalawag Noun. A rascal or scamp.
  • scaredy-cat Noun. A childish name for someone who takes fright at very little. In use by 1918.
  • skinflint Noun. A miser who hates to part with a penny.
  • slubberdegullion Noun. A sloppy, good-for-nothing rascal.
  • slugabed Noun. A person who stays in bed late. In use by 1648.
  • smellfungus Noun. A person who finds fault with everything. In use by 1768.
  • snollygoster Noun. A clever person with no principles, above all a politician. In use by the 1800s.
  • sourpuss Noun. A person who is always grumpy.
  • varmint Noun. A troublesome animal or person. In use by the 1540s.
  • wet blanket Noun. A person who dampens everyone's fun.
  • wiseacre Noun. A know-it-all. In use by 1869.
  • worrywart Noun. A person who worries about everything. In use by the 1930s.

Moving about 38

  • absquatulate Verb. To leave in a hurry. In use by the 1830s.
  • bimble Verb. To amble along without hurry. In use by the 1980s.
  • bumble Verb. To move or act in a clumsy way. In use by the 1530s.
  • cavort Verb. To leap and dance about. In use by 1793.
  • dawdle Verb. To move too slowly and waste time. In use by the 1600s.
  • deasil Adverb. Clockwise; with the sun's course. In use by 1771.
  • dillydally Verb. To waste time by being slow.
  • frolic Verb. To play and run about happily. In use by the 1580s.
  • gallivant Verb. To roam about looking for fun. In use by 1809.
  • galumph Verb. To move in a heavy, clumsy, bounding way. Formed from Lewis Carroll's galumphing.
  • hoedown Noun. A lively square-dance party. In use by 1845.
  • jitterbug Noun. A fast, bouncy swing dance. In use by 1934.
  • kitty-corner Adverb. Diagonally across. In use by the 1800s.
  • leapfrog Noun. A game in which players vault over each other's backs. In use by 1700.
  • lickety-split Adverb. As fast as possible. In use by the 1800s.
  • lollop Verb. To move in clumsy bounds. In use by 1861.
  • lollygag Verb. To dawdle and waste time.
  • mosey Verb. To stroll slowly.
  • pootle Verb. To travel along in no hurry.
  • sashay Verb. To walk with a showy swing.
  • scamper Verb. To run with quick, light steps. In use by 1687.
  • scarper Verb. To run away. In use by 1862.
  • scooch Verb. To slide over a little while sitting.
  • scram Verb. To leave at once. In use by 1927.
  • shilly-shally Verb. To be unable to make up your mind.
  • shimmy Verb. To dance with quick shakes of the shoulders; to wiggle from side to side. In use by 1934.
  • sidle Verb. To edge along sideways, hoping not to be noticed. In use by the late 1600s.
  • skedaddle Verb. To run away in a hurry. In use by about 1861.
  • skylark Verb. To play about and fool around. In use by 1809.
  • swagger Verb. To walk with a bold, boastful swing. In use by 1595.
  • tantivy Adverb. At full gallop. In use by 1737.
  • tootle Verb. To toot softly, as on a flute; also to go along in a leisurely way. In use by 1820.
  • traipse Verb. To walk wearily or without aim.
  • trundle Verb. To roll along slowly and heavily. In use by 1542.
  • vamoose Verb. To leave fast.
  • waddle Verb. To walk with short steps, swaying like a duck. In use by about 1400.
  • widdershins Adverb. Counterclockwise; against the sun's course. In use by about 1513.
  • zigzag Verb. To move with sharp turns left and right. In use by 1712.

Sounds and chatter 38

  • achoo Interjection. What a sneeze sounds like when you spell it out.
  • bloviate Verb. To talk at length in a pompous, empty way. In use by 1845.
  • borborygmus Noun. The rumbling sound of a stomach.
  • cacophony Noun. A harsh mix of clashing sounds.
  • caterwaul Verb. To yowl like a cat.
  • chortle Verb. To chuckle with glee. Coined by Lewis Carroll. In use by 1871.
  • clip-clop Noun. The sound of hooves on a hard road. In use by 1925.
  • crikey Interjection. A cry of surprise. In use by the 1800s.
  • gadzooks Interjection. An old cry of surprise.
  • gibber Verb. To talk fast and make no sense.
  • guffaw Noun. A loud, hearty burst of laughter. In use by the early 1700s.
  • harrumph Verb. To clear your throat in a pompous, disapproving way.
  • hee-haw Verb. To bray like a donkey, or to make a noise like one. In use by 1863.
  • hobnob Verb. To mix socially, above all with important people. In use by 1849.
  • kaboom Interjection. The sound of an explosion, as written in comic strips.
  • kaffeeklatsch Noun. A friendly chat over coffee. In use by 1877.
  • kerplunk Noun. The sound of something heavy landing.
  • kvetch Verb. To complain all the time. In use by 1969.
  • okey-dokey Interjection. A playful way to say OK. In use by the 1930s.
  • onomatopoeia Noun. A word that imitates the sound it names, like buzz or plop. In use by 1553.
  • oompah Noun. The thumping bass rhythm of a brass band.
  • pitter-patter Noun. A quick run of light taps, like rain or small feet.
  • quibble Noun. A petty objection over a tiny point. In use by the 1600s.
  • schmooze Verb. To chat in a friendly way, often to win favor.
  • spiel Noun. A long, practiced speech, often a sales pitch. In use by 1910.
  • splat Noun. The sound of something soft and wet hitting a surface.
  • squawk Verb. To give a loud, harsh cry. In use by 1821.
  • squelch Verb. To make a wet sucking sound, as boots do in mud.
  • susurrus Noun. A soft whispering or rustling sound.
  • tally-ho Interjection. A hunter's cry on sighting a fox. In use by 1772.
  • tee-hee Interjection. The sound of a giggle.
  • tintinnabulation Noun. The jingling or ringing sound that bells make. In use by 1849.
  • tittle-tattle Noun. Petty, idle gossip. In use by 1733.
  • toodle-oo Interjection. Goodbye. In use by 1904.
  • whomp Verb. To thump something with great force. In use by the mid-1900s.
  • yak Verb. To talk at length about nothing much.
  • yodel Verb. To sing with quick jumps between low and high notes.
  • zap Verb. To hit with a sudden burst of energy. In use by the 1920s.

Food and drink 36

  • burgoo Noun. A sailors' porridge; in the American Midwest, a spicy stew of meats and vegetables.
  • dollop Noun. A soft blob of food. In use by the 1810s.
  • elevenses Noun. A snack eaten at about eleven in the morning. In use by 1837.
  • figgy pudding Noun. A fruit pudding served at Christmas, which need not contain figs.
  • flapjack Noun. A pancake in the United States; in Britain, a chewy baked bar of oats and syrup.
  • flummery Noun. A soft, bland, jelly-like pudding; also empty talk meant to flatter.
  • gingersnap Noun. A crisp cookie flavored with ginger.
  • gobstopper Noun. A large, hard ball of candy.
  • goober Noun. A peanut. In use by 1833.
  • guzzle Verb. To drink or eat greedily. In use by 1576.
  • huckleberry Noun. A small, dark blue berry of North America. In use by the 1660s.
  • hush puppy Noun. A deep-fried ball of cornmeal batter.
  • johnnycake Noun. A dense cornmeal flatbread, baked or fried.
  • jujube Noun. A date-like fruit; in North America also a chewy candy. In use by the 1300s.
  • kohlrabi Noun. A cabbage relative grown for its round, swollen stem.
  • kumquat Noun. A small orange citrus fruit eaten with its peel.
  • lobscouse Noun. A sailors' stew of meat, vegetables and ship's biscuit.
  • mangelwurzel Noun. A large root vegetable of the beet family, grown mostly to feed cattle.
  • pandowdy Noun. An American deep-dish pudding of spiced, sliced apples baked under a topping.
  • peckish Adjective. A little bit hungry. In use by the late 1700s.
  • piccalilli Noun. A relish of chopped pickled vegetables and mustard. In use by about 1758.
  • pumpernickel Noun. A dark, dense rye bread from Germany.
  • rumbledethumps Noun. A Scottish dish: potato, cabbage and onion cooked together with butter.
  • rutabaga Noun. A large, round, yellow-fleshed root vegetable. In use by 1799.
  • scrummy Adjective. Delicious, in British children's talk. In use by 1930.
  • scrumptious Adjective. Delicious.
  • scuppernong Noun. A large greenish grape of the American South. In use by the 1820s.
  • slumgullion Noun. A cheap, watery stew; at first a weak, watery drink. In use by 1872.
  • slurp Verb. To eat or drink with a loud sucking noise.
  • smorgasbord Noun. A buffet of many hot and cold dishes. In use by 1876.
  • snickerdoodle Noun. A cookie rolled in cinnamon sugar. In use by 1889.
  • stargazy pie Noun. A Cornish pilchard pie with the fish heads poking up through the crust.
  • succotash Noun. Corn and lima beans cooked together. In use by 1792.
  • tiffin Noun. A light midday meal. In use by 1845.
  • toad-in-the-hole Noun. A British dish of sausages baked in batter.
  • whoopie pie Noun. Two soft round cakes with a creamy filling between them.

Odds and ends 42

  • bee's knees Noun. An excellent person or thing, as in the bee's knees. In use by 1922.
  • britches Noun. Trousers. In use by the 1700s.
  • bumbershoot Noun. An umbrella. In use by 1887.
  • caboodle Noun. The whole lot, as in the whole kit and caboodle. In use by 1848.
  • cat's pajamas Noun. An excellent person or thing, as in the cat's pajamas. In use by 1922.
  • clodhopper Noun. A big, heavy shoe or boot. In use by 1830.
  • contraption Noun. A machine that looks odd or overcomplicated. In use by the early 1800s.
  • copacetic Adjective. Very satisfactory. In use by 1919.
  • curlicue Noun. A fancy curl or twist, as in handwriting or ironwork.
  • doodad Noun. A small gadget or ornament. In use by the 1880s.
  • doohickey Noun. A small gadget whose name you cannot remember. In use by 1914.
  • doozy Noun. Something outstanding or extreme. First seen in 1903 as an adjective meaning excellent.
  • flivver Noun. A small, cheap, old car. In use by 1917.
  • gewgaw Noun. A showy trinket of little worth. In use by the 1400s.
  • ginormous Adjective. Huge; a blend of gigantic and enormous. In use by the 1940s.
  • gizmo Noun. A clever little gadget.
  • glockenspiel Noun. An instrument of tuned metal bars struck with small hammers.
  • gubbins Noun. Bits and pieces; gadgets. In use by 1553.
  • hootenanny Noun. A folk music party; earlier, a thingamajig.
  • humdinger Noun. An outstanding person or thing. In use by 1883.
  • hunky-dory Adjective. Just fine. In use by the 1860s.
  • hurdy-gurdy Noun. A stringed instrument played by turning a crank. In use by the 1740s.
  • jalopy Noun. An old, beat-up car. In use by 1924.
  • jiffy Noun. A moment. In use by 1780.
  • kaleidoscope Noun. A tube of mirrors and colored bits that makes patterns. In use by 1817.
  • knickknack Noun. A small ornament.
  • pantaloons Noun. Baggy trousers.
  • shebang Noun. Everything involved, as in the whole shebang. In use by 1863.
  • smidgen Noun. A tiny amount. In use by 1824.
  • smithereens Noun. Tiny broken pieces.
  • sockdolager Noun. A knockout blow; also anything that settles a matter. In use by 1827.
  • spiffy Adjective. Smart and stylish. In use by 1852.
  • splendiferous Adjective. Splendid. In use by 1837.
  • squeegee Noun. A tool with a rubber blade for wiping water off decks, floors or glass. In use by 1844.
  • tchotchke Noun. A small decorative trinket. In use by the 1950s.
  • thingamajig Noun. A thing whose name you cannot remember. In use by 1824.
  • tickety-boo Adjective. In good order. In use by the 1920s.
  • tiddlywinks Noun. A game of flicking small discs into a cup.
  • whatchamacallit Noun. Any object whose name will not come to mind. In use by 1921.
  • whirligig Noun. A spinning toy or garden ornament; anything that twirls round and round.
  • widget Noun. A small gadget. First seen in the play Beggar on Horseback. In use by 1924.
  • yonks Noun. A very long time. In use by about 1960.

How this list was compiled: Words chosen and explained for this site. All 300 were checked by script on 2026-09-19 against English Wiktionary through its API (https://en.wiktionary.org/w/api.php): every one has an English entry there, and the part of speech on each card matches a heading in that entry or in the entry for its main spelling. Each meaning is our own short wording of the sense people usually intend (Wiktionary text is under CC BY-SA 4.0; none of it is quoted). Left out: words with no entry, words whose usual sense today is rude or hurtful, every word Wiktionary labels an ethnic slur in any sense, and every word whose entry lists a crude slang sense for the body or for sex. A few entries still record a sense that the card does not use: lollygag and cavort once hinted at flirting, tchotchke was once said of a pretty girl, hokum is also a style of blues song known for innuendo, slubberdegullion could also mean a drunkard, and yak, zigzag and guzzle have drinking slang. The 206 'In use by' notes give the earliest firm evidence in the entry for the sense and part of speech on the card, read on 2026-09-19: a dated statement in the Etymology section, a first-use label on that definition, or the year of its earliest quotation. A date that belongs to another sense or another part of speech was not used, and where the page for a spelling only points to a main spelling the date comes from the main entry. They are latest possible dates, not first uses, and a word is often older than its note. The other 94 cards carry no note because that evidence was missing, uncertain or plainly far later than the word. Facts printed in the page copy and on the pandemonium, namby-pamby and widget cards were checked on 2026-09-19 against https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradise_Lost (published 1667, Pandemonium as the capital of Hell), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namby-pamby (Henry Carey's poem, 1725), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beggar_on_Horseback (1924 play by George S. Kaufman and Marc Connelly), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maury_Maverick (in the US House 1935 to 1939, head of the Smaller War Plants Corporation in 1944), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibberish (gobbledygook), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inherently_funny_word (the k tradition and the 2015 University of Alberta study) and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reduplication. The eight chips are our own sorting. Spelling is American. Licence: own work