kluge

Meanings

Noun

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

Verb

• Alternative of kludge

Origin

• From US military slang, possibly from German klug, or perhaps from Dutch Low Saxon klütje, Jutland Danish klyt ("piece of bad workmanship, klud(g)e"); compare and standard Danish kludder ("mess, disorder"). (Compare klutz.)
• According to the OED, an "invented word" influenced by bodge and fudge.
• Compare kludge.