whim-wham

[ hwim-hwam, wim-wam ]

noun

1. any odd or fanciful object or thing; a gimcrack.
2. whim-whams, Informal. nervousness; jitters:

   He had the whim-whams after the accident.

whim-wham

noun

1. archaic.
   something fanciful; a trifle

Word History and Origins

Origin of whim-wham¹

1490–1500; gradational compound; flimflam, jimjams, etc.

Word History and Origins

Origin of whim-wham¹

C16: of unknown origin; compare flimflam

Example Sentences

Then th' insignificant Knee-Rowl, A mere Whim-wham, upon my Soul; For that 'twas never made, I fear, To save the Master's Knees at Prayer: Which being worn o'th' largest size, That Man Rolls full, the Bully cries.

From Project Gutenberg

For want of some piquancy, which our eye does not catch in the French journals, we sum up our chit-chat with this pleasant whim-wham of English flavor: My man Davis is a bit of a character.

From Project Gutenberg

He has gone to buy screws, or something, to make a whim-wham to wind up the sun.”

From Project Gutenberg

I was saying break out directly with a rash desire to spend more money upon a whim-wham to wind up the sun.”

From Project Gutenberg

So much for the commencement of this long whim-wham.

From Project Gutenberg