predecessor vs stopgap

predecessor

noun
  • A model or type of machinery or device which precedes the current (or later) one. Usually used to describe an earlier, outdated model. 

  • One who precedes; one who has preceded another in any state, position, office, etc.; one whom another follows or comes after, in any office or position. 

  • A vertex having a directed path to another vertex 

stopgap

adj
  • Short-term; temporary. 

  • Filling a gap or pause. 

verb
  • To stop up or fill (a physical gap or hole, or a hiatus). 

  • To use something as a short-term fix or temporary measure until a better alternative can be obtained. 

  • To work at a position temporarily until a permanent appointment or hire is made. 

noun
  • That which stops up or fills a gap or hole. 

  • Something spoken to fill up an uncomfortable pause in speech; a filled pause or filler. 

  • 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. 

  • A person appointed or hired to fill a position temporarily until a permanent appointment or hire can be made; a temp. 

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