Sc. Also -me-, -ie. [Origin obscure.] Anything fanciful or whimsical; a fantastic notion, whim, crotchet; a fanciful ornament, contrivance, etc. Also attrib.
1730. Ramsay, Man with Twa Wives, 18. But Bess the whig … Took figmaliries, and wald jump.
1786. Burns, Brigs of Ayr, 96. Gin ye be a Brig as auld as me,… There’ll be, if that day come, I’ll wad a boddle, Some fewer whigmeleeries in your noddle. Ibid. (1793), Lett. to Mrs. Dunlop, 5 Jan. I had two worthy fellows dining with me the other day, when I … produced my whigmaleerie cup.
1818. Scott, Rob Roy, xix. It’s a brave kirk—nane o’ yere whigmaleeries and curlie-wurlies and open-steek hems about it.
1878. Mrs. Oliphant, Primrose Path, vii. A’ the whigmaleeries of the auld steeple.
