wig-wag
n.— «The banjo crossing signal, also called a wig-wag, was (and still might be in some places) a round target with a hole in the center that swung back and forth when activated. Looked somewhat like a banjo being swung back and forth by its neck.» —“Re: What’s a Banjo Eye?” Usenet: rec.railroad May 10, 1990. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
It’s hard to imagine now, but there was a time when people disagreed over the best word to use when answering the phone. Alexander Graham Bell suggested answering with ahoy! but Thomas Edison was partial to hello! A fascinating new book about...
Perfect sentences and slang that tickles your mind! A new book of writing advice says a good sentence “imposes a logic on the world’s weirdness” and pares away options for meaning, word by word. • Your musician friend may refer to...