voodoo rig
n.— «The large dinosaurs glide along, attached to low-slung go-carts run by jockey-size drivers. A second operator in a control booth uses a “voodoo rig”—a device that fits along the operator’s arm—to move a dinosaur’s body, head and tail, while a third person manipulates the eyes, jaws and sounds.» —“Making a Thundering Comeback After 65 Million Years” by Patricia Cohen New York Times Oct. 3, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
To noodle meaning “to think on” is so-named because it from noddle, an old word for “head,” and not because a brain looks like a clump of pasta noodles. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “To Noodle with Your Noddle” Hi there. You...
English spelling is a hot mess, even for native speakers. But as a new book shows, would-be spelling reformers, including Benjamin Franklin and Theodore Roosevelt, eventually just gave up. Also, what do you call your fellow parent in front of the...