Machin

From machun, from Anglo-Norman machun, masson, from Frankish *makjo (“maker; builder; see make”). More at mason.

• IPA^(key): /ˈmeɪt͡ʃɪn/

Machin

1. A surname originating as an occupation.

Machin (plural Machins)

1. (philately) Any of a British series of definitive stamps designed by Arnold Machin, first issued in 1967 and featuring a side view portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.

• Downey Heads
• Wilding

• D. G. A. Myall, The Complete Deegam Machin Handbook, Bridport (Dorset), Deegam Publications, 1993

• chiman, manchi

Back-formation from machine.

Machin m (plural Machins, feminine Machine)

1. (informal) what's-his-face (a general word used to designate a person whom one does not know how to name more precisely, in particular whose name has been forgotten)

   Elle se promenait avec Machin ; j’ai oublié son nom.

   She was walking with Thingy; I've forgotten his name.

   • 2012, Fouad Laroui, “Né nulle part”, in L’Étrange Affaire du pantalon de Dassoukine, page 41:

     Dans un café de P*, capitale de la F*, un jeune Marocain, m’ayant civilement abordé (« Vous êtes bien Machin, le gazetier ? »), m’affirme de manière véhémente que je dois entendre son histoire.

     In a café in P*, the capital of F*, a young Moroccan, having politely approached me ("Are you what's-his-face, the reporter?") insisted that I should listen to his story.