English Explanatory Dictionary

MacGuffin

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A plot element or other device used to catch the audience's attention and maintain suspense, but whose exact nature has fairly little influence over the storyline.
name
  1. A surname.

Pronunciation

/məˈɡʌf.ɪn/ en-us-MacGuffin.ogg

Word forms

MacGuffin MacGuffins McGuffin

Etymology

Used by Alfred Hitchcock, as an arbitrary Scottish surname. The actual name comes from Ulster: Mc- (“son of”) + Irish dubh (“black”) + Irish Fionn (literally “fairheaded”). See also Wikipedia's MacGuffin § History and use.

Related words

red herring Chekhov's gun MacGuffinite
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