Kluge

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -uːdÊ’

Origin

U.S. military slang, probably from the German klug ("clever").

Cf. German Klōß, diminutive Klößchen "clod", Low Saxon klut, klute, Dutch kluit, perhaps related to Low German diminutive klütje "dumpling, clod", Danish Jutland dial. klyt "piece of bad workmanship, kludge", and Standard Danish kludder "mess, disorder". If so, related to klutz.

There is also speculation that the term was influenced by a particular, old, allegedly complicated printing press paper feeder manufactured by the company of Brandtjen & Kluge.

Full definition of kluge

Noun

1. Something that should not work, but does.
2. A device assembled from components intended for disparate purposes.

Usage notes

Synonyms

• (something that should not work but does) kludge

Anagrams

• kugel