whim-wham

See also: whimwham

English

Alternative forms

• whimwham

Etymology

Uncertain; perhaps from North Germanic (compare Old Norse hvima (“to let the eyes wander”), Norwegian kvima (“to flutter”)), but in any case ultimately sound-symbolic/a fanciful reduplication (compare flim-flam).

Noun

whim-wham (plural whim-whams)

1. (obsolete) A whimsical object; a trinket.
   • 1640, John Fletcher, James Shirley, “The Night Walker, or The Little Thief”, in The works of Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, volume 2, published 1750, page 101:

     They′ll pull ye all to pieces for your Whim-whams,
     Your Garters and your Gloves,

2. A whim or fancy.
   • 1807 April 18, “Anthony Evergreen” (Washington Irving), Salmagundi, or The Whim-whams and Opinions of Launcelot Langstaff, Esq. & Others, No. VIII, 1834, The Complete Works of Washington Irving in One Volume, page 35,

     And trust me, gentlefolk, his are the whim-whams of a courteous gentleman full of most excellent qualities ; honourable in his disposition, independent in his sentiments, and of unbounded good-nature, as may be seen through all his works.

3. (in the plural) A state of nervous anxiety.
   • 2009, Derryl Murphy, William Shunn, Cast a Cold Eye:

     But that wasn't what gave him the whim-whams so bad here. In the clearing, no more than ten feet away, stood a little stone cherub atop a fancy grave marker maybe three feet high.

Derived terms

• whim-wham for a goose's bridle