Silly Putty

Beginner 📱 Gen-Z / Internet Slang

Definition

A bouncy, putty-like compound with unusual properties—it can stretch like taffy, bounce like a ball, and break like glass depending on how you handle it. Originally marketed by Crayola, it's been a nostalgic toy since the 1950s.

Example Usage

The kids were amazed when I showed them how Silly Putty could pick up ink from a newspaper when pressed against it, then bounce across the floor.

Origin

Accidentally invented in 1943 during World War II as a failed attempt to create synthetic rubber; commercialized in the 1950s.

Fun Fact

Silly Putty was actually used to repair the Hubble Space Telescope and holds legitimate patents for industrial applications despite being marketed as a toy.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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