noun
whatnot
WOT-not
noun
1
Small miscellaneous items or odds and ends.
"The drawer was full of buttons, string, and whatnot."
2
Other similar things left unnamed; "and so on."
"She talked about her job, her kids, and whatnot."
3
A freestanding set of shelves used to display ornaments.
"The china figurines sat on an antique whatnot in the hallway."
How to Use Whatnot
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA catch-all word for miscellaneous things, or (older use) a small display shelf.
Common pairings
and whatnot
bits and whatnot
Word Forms
whatnots plural
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The drawer was full of buttons, string, and _____.
Etymology
Formed from "what" plus "not," originally used as a catch-all phrase for unnamed items.