Also 67 whym wham, 7 whimwhom, 89 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 sb.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.).
c. 1529. Skelton, E. Rummyng, 75. After the Sarasyns gyse, With a whym wham, Knyt with a trym tram, Vpon her brayne pan.
1602. Dekker, Satirom., F 2. Dost loue that mother Mumble-crust, dost thou? dost long for that whim-wham?
1621. J. Taylor (Water P.), Superbiæ Flagellum, C 7 b. Whimwhams & whirligiggs to please Baboones.
1625. Fletcher & Shirley, Nt. Walker, I. i. Theyll pull ye all to pieces, for your whim-whams; Your garters and your gloves.
1641. J. Taylor (Water P.), Reply as true as Steel (1877), 6. He causd some formes of flowers twixt the Beast legges be painted To hide his whim wham.
1659. Torriano, Teucone, a mans whim-wham.
1691. Mrs. DAnvers, Academia, 17. The Yats [= gates] all hung about with whimwhoms, As Fishes Bones, and other thingums.
1721. Ramsay, Scriblers Lashd, 197. Dealers in small Ware, Clinks, Whim Whams.
1808. Han. More, Cœlebs (1809), II. 183. I have spent 700 pounds for her to learn music and whim-whams.
1818. Scott, Br. Lamm., xi. Florentine and flamsbacon, wi reverence, and a the sweet confections and whim-whams.
a. 1842. Hawthorne, Twice-told T. (1851), I. ix. 163. So much for the commencement of this long whim-wham.
1854. Miss Baker, Northampt. Gloss., Whim-wom, a bird-boys clackers for frightening birds from fruit or corn.
1860. Slang Dict., Whim-wham, an alliterative term, synonymous with fiddle-faddle, riff-raff, etc., denoting nonsense, rubbish, etc.
2. A fantastic notion, odd fancy; = WHIM sb.1 3.
1580. Fulke, 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.
1588. J. Harvey, Disc. Probl., 40. Such blind vnreasonable whimwhams.
1621. Fletcher, Wild-Goose Chase, III. i. Your studied Whim-whams; and your fine set faces.
1759. Sterne, 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.
18078. W. Irving, Salmag. (1824), 123. He declared he would humour the weather no longer in its whim-whams.
1832. Rowl. Hill, in Life (1834), 382. The pure and simple gospel of Christ, but not intermixed with the whim-whams of the present day.
1882. C. D. Warner, Washington Irving, iv. 50. The same wit, insight, and literary art, informed with the modern spirit and turned upon the follies and whim-whams of the metropolis, would doubtless have a great measure of success.