whim

n. [ Cf. Whimbrel. ] (Zool.) The European widgeon. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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. -- 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 ]

n. [ Cf. Whimper. ] (Zool.) Any one of several species of small curlews, especially the European species (Numenius phaeopus), called also Jack curlew, half curlew, stone curlew, and tang whaup. See Illustration in Appendix. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hudsonian or,
Eskimo,
whimbreal, the Hudsonian curlew. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Whim + -ling. ] One given to whims; hence, a weak, childish person; a child. [ 1913 Webster ]

Go, whimling, and fetch two or three grating loaves. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Full of whims; whimsical. [ 1913 Webster ]

The study of Rabbinical literature either finds a man whimmy or makes him so. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To utter in alow, whining tone. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Whimpered p. pr. & vb. n. Whimpering. ] [ Cf. Scot. whimmer, G. wimmern. ] To cry with a low, whining, broken voice; to whine; to complain; as, a child whimpers. [ 1913 Webster ]

Was there ever yet preacher but there were gainsayers that spurned, that winced, that whimpered against him? Latimer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A low, whining, broken cry; a low, whining sound, expressive of complaint or grief. [ 1913 Webster ]