Dinges

Pronounced derng-is dinges is South African informal for thingummy from the Dutch/Afrikaans ding meaning thing. Like its English counterpart thingummy, it is used when one cannot recall the exact name of a thing or person. A similar word dingus meaning much the same thing is also known and used in some parts of America where the Dutch originally settled, which means that the word could date from as far back as the 17th century. The South African version was certainly in use in South Africa from at least the 19th century, if not before.