6 June 2017
gubbins
/ˈɡʌbɪnz/
noun (informal)
1. (functioning as sing) an object of little or no value
2. (functioning as sing) a small device or gadget
3. (functioning as pl) odds and ends; litter or rubbish
4. (functioning as sing) a silly person
Word Origin
(meaning: fragments): from obsolete gobbon, probably related to gobbet
Collins English Dictionary
Examples from the Web for gubbins
Historical Examples
There’s a lot like gubbins, an’ one has to try an’ sweeten ’em a bit once a week or so.
The Record of Nicholas Freydon
A. J. (Alec John) Dawson
The sergeant called for assistance, and gubbins was hauled up.
For Fortune and Glory
Lewis Hough
For Green would not think of him as dead, and no more for that matter did gubbins, though Davis had given up all hope long ago.
For Fortune and Glory
Lewis Hough
Anagram
bub sign
snug bib
Today’s quote
Moral maxims are surprisingly useful on occasions when we can invent little else to justify our actions.
― Alexander Pushkin
On this day
6 June – Queensland Day, which celebrates the establishment of the colony of Queensland. On 6 June 1859, Queen Victoria gave her approval for the new colony by signing the Letters Patent. On the same day, an Order-in-Council gave Queensland its own Constitution.
6 June – Russian Language Day (UN) – coincides with the birthday of Aleksandr Pushkin, Russian poet who is considered the father of modern Russian literature.
6 June 1799 – birth of Aleksandr Pushkin, Russian poet and author of the romantic era. Considered the father of modern Russian literature. He was born into Russian nobility. His matrilineal great grandfather, Abram Gannibal, was brought over as a slave from Africa and had risen to the aristocracy. Died during a duel on 10 February 1837.
6 June 1808 – Napoleon’s brother, Joseph Bonaparte, is crowned King of Spain.
6 June 1844 – The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) is founded in London.
6 June 1939 – Judge Joseph Force Crater, known as the ‘Missingest man in New York’ is declared legally dead after going missing nine years earlier. His body has never been found, but his disappearance fueled allegations of corruption in the City government and lead to the downfall of political organisation, Tammany Hall.
6 June 1944 – D-day (Operation Overlord), when the Allies launch a massive invasion of Europe to combat the German war machine. Over a million Allied troops storm the beaches of Normandy.
6 June 1961 – death of Carl Jung, Swiss psychiatrist and founder of analytical psychology. He developed the concepts of extraversion and introversion; archetypes and collective unconscious. Born 26 July 1875.
6 June 1982 – the Lebanon War begins when Israeli forces under the command of the Defence Minister, Ariel Sharon, invade southern Lebanon, eventually pushing into Beirut. It lasted until June 1985. Israel suffered 657 dead and 3,887 wounded. Syrian and Palestinian casualties were 19,085 civilian and combatant deaths.
6 June 1984 – Tetris, one of the world’s biggest selling games, is released.