custom vs thing

custom

noun
  • Frequent repetition of the same behavior; way of behavior common to many; ordinary manner; habitual practice; method of doing, living or behaving. 

  • Habitual buying of goods; practice of frequenting, as a shop, factory, etc., for making purchases or giving orders; business support. 

  • Traditional beliefs or rituals. 

  • Long-established practice, considered as unwritten law, and resting for authority on long consent. Compare prescription. 

  • A custom (made-to-order) piece of art, pornography, etc. 

adj
  • Created under particular specifications, specially to fit one's needs: specialized, unique, custom-made. 

  • Own, personal, not standard or premade. 

thing

noun
  • One's typical routine, habits, or manner. (Used in possessive constructions.) 

  • A public assembly or judicial council in a Germanic country. 

  • A unit or container, usually containing edible goods. 

  • A problem, dilemma, or complicating factor. 

  • Corporeal object. 

  • That which is considered to exist as a separate entity, object, quality or concept. 

  • A romantic relationship. 

  • Alternate form of ting. 

  • Used after a noun to refer dismissively to the situation surrounding the noun's referent. 

  • A genuine concept, entity or phenomenon; something that actually exists (often contrary to expectation or belief). 

  • An individual object or distinct entity. 

  • That which is favoured; personal preference. (Used in possessive constructions.) 

  • A living being or creature. 

  • A penis. 

  • Whatever can be owned. 

  • Girl; attractive woman. 

  • Clothes, possessions or equipment. 

  • That which matters; the crux. 

  • A romantic couple. 

  • A word, symbol, sign, or other referent that can be used to refer to any entity. 

verb
  • To express as a thing; to reify. 

How often have the words custom and thing occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )