toolishness

English

Etymology

tool +‎ -ish +‎ ness, influenced by foolishness

Noun

toolishness

  1. The nature of being a tool.
    • a. 1902, Samuel Butler, Geoffrey Keynes and Brian Hill editors, Notebooks: Selections, 1951, page 122
      The simplest tool I can think of is a piece of gravel used for making a road. Nothing is done to it, it owes its being a tool to the fact that is subserves a purpose. A broken piece of granite used for macadamizing a road is a more complex instrument, about the toolishness of which no doubt can be entertained.
  2. Excessive concern with tools rather than results.
    • 1989 September 22, “Touching Tools Of the Trade”, in Washington Post:
      The walls and halls of Hechinger headquarters are bedizened with icons to tools and toolishness, ranging from classic photographs to a machine that makes […]
    • 2002 March 1, “Tech Smart: making discerning technology choices”, in Multimedia Schools:
      By now we should have learned that "toolishness" is foolishness. Showering fancy equipment and toys on classrooms without smart planning is unlikely to […]
    • 2002, Jamie McKenzie, “Beyond Toolishness: The Best Way for Teachers To Learn and Put New Technologies to Good Use”, in MultiMedia Schools, v9 n4 p34-39 Sep 2002:
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