whim

whim n

A transference from whim-wham, the chief of a group of words, flim-flam, jim-jam, trim-tram which all are applied to trivial or frivolous things. The history is unclear, but the ON hvimsa, to wander with eyes as with the fugitive look of a frightened or silly person, may be related.

  1. Preference; favorite; [fig.] criterion; way of knowing.
  2. Fancy; desire; impulse; capricious choice.