whim gin

whim gin
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.] [1913 Webster] 1. A sudden turn or start of the mind; a temporary eccentricity; a freak; a fancy; a capricious notion; a humor; a caprice. [1913 Webster]

Let every man enjoy his whim. --Churchill. [1913 Webster]

2. (Mining) A large capstan or vertical drum turned by horse power or steam power, for raising ore or water, etc., from mines, or for other purposes; -- called also {whim gin}, and {whimsey}. [1913 Webster]

{Whim gin} (Mining), a whim. See {Whim}, 2.

{Whim shaft} (Mining), a shaft through which ore, water, etc., is raised from a mine by means of a whim. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Freak; caprice; whimsey; fancy.

Usage: {Whim}, {Freak}, {Caprice}. Freak denotes an impulsive, inconsiderate change of mind, as by a child or a lunatic. Whim is a mental eccentricity due to peculiar processes or habits of thought. Caprice is closely allied in meaning to freak, but implies more definitely a quality of willfulness or wantonness. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Whim gin — 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 gin — noun : whim 3a …   Useful english dictionary

  • 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 shaft — 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

  • gin — I. n. 1. Geneva. 2. Machine, crane, whim, windlass, whim gin, whimsey, whin. 3. Cotton gin. 4. Trap, snare, net, toils, noose, springe. II. v. a. 1. Pass through the gin, clear of seeds (as cotton). 2 …   New dictionary of synonyms

  • Gin — Gin, n. [A contraction of engine.] [1913 Webster] 1. Contrivance; artifice; a trap; a snare. Chaucer. Spenser. [1913 Webster] 2. (a) A machine for raising or moving heavy weights, consisting of a tripod formed of poles united at the top, with a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Gin block — Gin Gin, n. [A contraction of engine.] [1913 Webster] 1. Contrivance; artifice; a trap; a snare. Chaucer. Spenser. [1913 Webster] 2. (a) A machine for raising or moving heavy weights, consisting of a tripod formed of poles united at the top, with …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Gin power — Gin Gin, n. [A contraction of engine.] [1913 Webster] 1. Contrivance; artifice; a trap; a snare. Chaucer. Spenser. [1913 Webster] 2. (a) A machine for raising or moving heavy weights, consisting of a tripod formed of poles united at the top, with …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Gin race — Gin Gin, n. [A contraction of engine.] [1913 Webster] 1. Contrivance; artifice; a trap; a snare. Chaucer. Spenser. [1913 Webster] 2. (a) A machine for raising or moving heavy weights, consisting of a tripod formed of poles united at the top, with …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Gin ring — Gin Gin, n. [A contraction of engine.] [1913 Webster] 1. Contrivance; artifice; a trap; a snare. Chaucer. Spenser. [1913 Webster] 2. (a) A machine for raising or moving heavy weights, consisting of a tripod formed of poles united at the top, with …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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