stopgap

noun stopgaps · stop-gap · stuff gap

1. rare That which stops up or fills a gap or hole. [A] bit of ink and paper which has long been an innocent wrapping or stop-gap may at last be laid open under the one pair of eyes which have knowledge enough to turn it into the opening of a catastrophe.

   Similar: fillgap

2. figuratively Something spoken to fill up an uncomfortable pause in speech; a filled pause or filler.
3. figuratively A short-term fix or temporary measure used until something better can be obtained; that which serves as an expedient in an emergency; a band-aid solution. The small company used their old product with a few kludged enhancements as a stopgap until they could develop a new product.

   Similar: band-aid, bandaid, quick fix, band-aid solution, bodge, cludge, fiddle, hack, hack job, jugaad, kludge, kluge

4. figuratively, specifically A person appointed or hired to fill a position temporarily until a permanent appointment or hire can be made; a temp. As witness the following. Mr Strudwick, the regular master of the form, happened on one occasion to be away for a couple of days, and a stop-gap was put in in his place. The name of the stop-gap was Mr Somerville Smith. He and Farnie exchanged an unspoken declaration of war almost immediately.

   Similar: band-aid, bandaid, quick fix, band-aid solution, bodge, cludge, fiddle, hack, hack job, jugaad, kludge, kluge

adjective stop-gap

1. not comparable Short-term; temporary. They put a stopgap solution in place, but need something more permanent.
2. not comparable Filling a gap or pause.

Similar: interim

verb stopgaps · stopgapping · stopgapped · stop-gap

1. transitive To stop up or fill (a physical gap or hole, or a hiatus).
2. intransitive To use something as a short-term fix or temporary measure until a better alternative can be obtained.
3. intransitive, specifically To work at a position temporarily until a permanent appointment or hire is made.