whim

whim
whim 1640s, "pun or play on words," shortened from WHIMWHAM (Cf. whimwham) "fanciful object" (q.v.). Meaning "sudden notion, fancy, or idea" first recorded 1690s, probably a shortened form of WHIMSY (Cf. whimsy).

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Whim — Whim, n. [Cf. Icel. hwima to wander with the eyes, vim giddiness, Norw. kvima to whisk or flutter about, to trifle, Dan. vimse to skip, whisk, jump from one thing to another, dial. Sw. hvimsa to be unsteady, dizzy, W. chwimio to move briskly.]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • whim — [wım] n [Date: 1600 1700; Origin: whim wham decorative object, whim (16 19 centuries), of unknown origin] a sudden feeling that you would like to do or have something, especially when there is no important or good reason on a whim ▪ I didn t… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • whim — whim·brel; whim; whim·per·ing·ly; whim·si·cal; whim·si·cal·i·ty; whim·sied; whim·sy wham·sy; whim·per; whim·sy; whim·si·cal·ly; whim·si·cal·ness; …   English syllables

  • Whim — or WHIM has various meanings:*the word , meaning #a temporary fancy or eccentricity; or #a capstan or drum with a vertical axle used in mining #a carriage. * Adventures of Wim , a book by George Cockroft, as Luke Rhinehart, reissued as Whim *WHIM …   Wikipedia

  • WHIM — could refer to:*WHIM (astrophysics), Warm Hot Intergalactic Medium *WHIM syndrome, Wart, Hypogammaglobulinemia, Infection, and Myelokathexis syndromeIn radio: *WHIM (AM), a radio station (1520 AM) licensed to Apopka, Florida, United States *WHIM… …   Wikipedia

  • whim — [ wım, hwım ] noun count a sudden feeling that you must have or do something. This word often suggests that what someone wants is not important: on a whim: On a whim, she decided to go away for the weekend. at someone s whim: Prisoners were… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • whim|sy — «HWIHM zee», noun, plural sies, adjective. –n. 1. an odd or fanciful notion. SYNONYM(S): vagary, caprice. 2. odd or fanciful humor; quaintness: »“Alice in Wonderland” is full of whimsy. SYNONYM(S): drollery …   Useful english dictionary

  • Whim — Whim, v. i. To be subject to, or indulge in, whims; to be whimsical, giddy, or freakish. [R.] Congreve. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Whim — Whim, n. [Cf. {Whimbrel}.] (Zo[ o]l.) The European widgeon. [Prov. Eng.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • WHIM — steht für: Warm Hot Intergalactic Medium, Bestandteil des intergalaktischen Raums WHIM Syndrom, Warzen Hypogammaglobulinämie Immundefizienz Myelokathexis Syndrom Wessex Head Injury Matrix, einen ein englischsprachigen neuropsychologischen Score… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • whim — [hwim, wim] n. [short for WHIM WHAM] 1. a sudden fancy; idle and passing notion; capricious idea or desire 2. a kind of winch or capstan powered by a horse or steam, formerly used in mines to raise ore or water SYN. CAPRICE …   English World dictionary

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