Never mind thingamajig being a funny word, what about
T h i g m o t a x i s
It's not an ordinary, everyday word, that's for sure, and doesn't feature often in everyday talk. It's a new one for me.
It describes
- the tendency of an animal to 'hug' the perimeter of an otherwise open, exposed field, or
- the tendency of cats to lean in to the pressure of contact
Merriam Webster defines it as a movement "in which contact especially with a solid body is the directive factor"
ask a naturalist adds that this response usually benefits the organism by providing "greater safety, easier access to food supplies, [and helping] finding mates, etc."
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