Do you know the difference between a doodad and a whatnot?

Southern folk have such wonderful words and expressions. I was reminded of this the other day when talking with Myra Boutwell about her vacation.


Myra told me she spent her time off washing her “doodads” and “whatnots.” While that could be taken as something less than innocent, that was exactly what it was – innocent. I understood what she was talking about without having to take the time to think about it.

You see, I know what whatnots are – and doodads, too.

Whatnots are the same as nicknacks and bric-a-brac. They are defined as “miscellaneous curios.”

A doodad is the same thing as a thingamajig, a thingamabob, a doohickey, a whatchamacallit and a whatsis. All are defined as “something unspecified whose name is either forgotten or not known.”

My grandmother used to have shelves of doodads and whatnots. She used to get on to me about messing with them all the time. It is just wrong to mess with someone’s doodads and whatnots.

Hopefully, you understand the difference. Many people do not and get them confused all the time – if they even know the terms to begin with. Let me see if I can explain. A doodad, thingamajig, thingamabob, doohickey, whatchamacallit or whatsis can come off of a whatnot, nicknack or bric-a-brac, but a whatnot, nicknack or bric-a-brac cannot come off of a doodad, thingamajig, thingamabob, doohickey, whatchamacallit or whatsis. Understand? It is really not that difficult to understand.

Knowing the difference between the two objects is important in the South – like knowing the difference between a hissie fit and a conniption. You do know the difference don’t you?

A hissie fit is a childish temper tantrum. A conniption is a display of bad temper, usually by an adult. The proper verb associated with these two terms is “throw.” Children throw a hissie fit. Adults throw a conniption. I have seen both and must say neither is a pleasant sight. Heck, come to think of it, I have thrown both at different times in my life. In both cases, I have to say I would have been described as a bit cantankerous. That means I was bad-tempered, argumentative or uncooperative.

Understanding Southerners is not difficult, if you were raised here in the South. If you are from somewhere else, it takes a while to catch on – eh, understand what’s being said.

I have grown up knowing that a “heap” is a large amount of something. Having a “hankering” means I have a strong or persistent desire or yearning. When someone says, “I hear tell,” I understand that person is about to convey information to me that is second-handed.

When someone tells me they “like to” or “nearabout,” I understand that they almost did something or that something almost happened to them. I know that “piddlin’” means small or inferior, to feel poorly or to waste time. If someone is described as “no ‘count,” that person is good for nothing – of no account.

I know most of these things because I have lived them. I have been “ornery,” “toted” things, had to perform a duty “lickety split,” and gotten “riled up.”

Thank goodness, I have never “walked on the slant.” If I had, I would have been drunk and needed those cucumbers I wrote about a couple of weeks ago to sober up.

I know when someone says, “That dog won’t hunt,” that it is a bad idea. If someone says, “There are a good many,” it means there are a lot of whatever they are talking about.

I am Southern enough to know the difference between Redneck Caviar and a Southern Seafood platter. Redneck Caviar can be either potted meat or black-eyed peas and a Southern Seafood Platter is a tin of sardines. I am Southern enough to know that folks are talking about the American Civil War when they say, “War Between the States,” “War for Southern Independence” or “War of Northern Aggression.”

I have been “tore up.” I have tried to avoid any signs of being “uppity.” I know what a “washateria” is and what to do when I go to one. I even know where “over yonder” is most of the time.

And, if you understand all these terms, you will understand when I say, “Your druthers is my ruthers.” On that, we can all agree.