| 释义 |
whim-wham|ˈhwɪmhwæm|
Also 6–7 whym wham, 7 whimwhom, 8–9 whimwam, 9 wimwam, whim-, wim-wom.
[A reduplication with vowel-variation, like flim-flam, jim-jam, trim-tram, all of which are similarly applied to trivial or frivolous things.
The history of the group of words of which whim n.1, whimsy, and this word are the chief members, is not clear. The existence in ON. of hvima to wander with the eyes as with the fugitive look of a frightened or silly person, and hvimsa to be taken aback or discomfited, suggests the possibility of an ultimate Scand. origin; but, seeing that whim-wham is the earliest recorded of the group (contemporaneously with the similar reduplicated forms mentioned above), an indigenous symbolic origin is more likely; in which case whimsy may be related to whim-wham as flimsy to flim-flam.]
1. A fanciful or fantastic object; fig. a trifle; in early use chiefly, a trifling ornament of dress, a trinket; later in various local uses (see quots.).
a1529Skelton E. Rummyng 75 After the Sarasyns gyse, With a whym wham, Knyt with a trym tram, Vpon her brayne pan. 1602Dekker Satirom. F 2, Dost loue that mother Mumble-crust, dost thou? dost long for that whim⁓wham? 1621J. Taylor (Water P.) Superbiæ Flagellum C 7 b, Whimwhams & whirligiggs to please Baboones. 1625Fletcher & Shirley Nt. Walker i. i, They'll pull ye all to pieces, for your whim-whams, Your garters and your gloves. 1641J. Taylor (Water P.) Reply as true as Steel (1877) 6 He caus'd some formes of flowers..'twixt the Beast legges be painted To hide his whim wham. 1659Torriano, Tencone,..a mans whim-wham. 1691Mrs. D'Anvers Academia 17 The Yat's [= gate's] all hung about with whimwhoms, As Fishes Bones, and other thingums. 1721Ramsay Scriblers Lash'd 197 Dealers in small Ware, Clinks, Whim Whams. 1808H. More Cœlebs (1809) II. 183, I have spent 700 pounds..for her to learn music and whim-whams. 1818Scott Br. Lamm. xi, Florentine and flams—bacon, wi' reverence, and a' the sweet confections and whim-whams. a1842Hawthorne Twice-told T. (1851) I. ix. 163 So much for the commencement of this long whim⁓wham. 1854A. E. Baker Northampt. Gloss., Whim-wom, a bird-boy's clackers for frightening birds from fruit or corn. 1860Slang Dict., Whim-wham, an alliterative term, synonymous with fiddle-faddle, riff-raff, etc., denoting nonsense, rubbish, etc.
2. A fantastic notion, odd fancy; = whim n.1 3.
1580Fulke Stapleton Confut. ii. viii. 117 Voluntarie pouertie in Augustine not found in the first planters of this newe trim tram. A matter worthie to be aunswered with a whim wham. 1588J. Harvey Disc. Probl. 40 Such blind vnreasonable whimwhams. 1621Fletcher Wild-Goose Chase iii. i, Your studied Whim-whams; and your fine set faces. 1759Sterne Tr. Shandy I. vii, Who..not only hit upon this dainty amendment, but coaxed many of the old-licensed matrons..to open their faculties afresh, in order to have this whim-wham of his inserted. 1807–8W. Irving Salmag. (1824) 123 He declared he would humour the weather no longer in its whim-whams. 1832Rowl. Hill in Life (1834) 382 The pure and simple gospel of Christ, but not intermixed with the whim-whams of the present day. 1882C. D. Warner W. Irving iv. 50 The follies and ‘whim⁓whams’ of the metropolis. |