whimsey

whimsey
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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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Whimsey — Whim sey, Whimsy Whimsy, n.; pl. {Whimseys}or {Whimsies}. [See {Whim}.] [1913 Webster] 1. A whim; a freak; a capricious notion, a fanciful or odd conceit. The whimsies of poets and painters. Ray. [1913 Webster] Men s folly, whimsies, and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Whimsey — Whim sey, v. t. To fill with whimseys, or whims; to make fantastic; to craze. [R.] [1913 Webster] To have a man s brain whimsied with his wealth. J. Fletcher. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • whimsey — noun 1. the trait of acting unpredictably and more from whim or caprice than from reason or judgment I despair at the flightiness and whimsicality of my memory • Syn: ↑flightiness, ↑arbitrariness, ↑whimsicality, ↑whimsy, ↑capriciousness •… …   Useful english dictionary

  • whimsey — noun see whimsy …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • whimsey — /hwim zee, wim /, n., pl. whimseys. whimsy. * * * …   Universalium

  • whimsey — (Roget s Thesaurus II) noun See whimsy …   English dictionary for students

  • whimsey — see whimsy …   English dictionary

  • whimsey — n. Caprice, whim …   New dictionary of synonyms

  • whimsey — /ˈwɪmzi/ (say wimzee) noun (plural whimseys) → whimsy …  

  • whimsey glass — ▪ glass also called  Frigger,         glass with no utilitarian purpose, executed to satisfy the whim of the glassmaker. Such offhand exercises in skill are almost as old as glassmaking itself. Some of the earliest pieces blown for fun are boots… …   Universalium

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