whigmaleerie

American  

[hwig-muh-leer-ee, wig-] / ˌʰwɪg məˈlɪər i, ˌwɪg- /

noun

1. a whim; notion.

2. a whimsical or fanciful ornament or contrivance; gimmick.

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whigmaleerie British  

/ ˌhwɪɡməˈliːrɪ /

noun

1. a trinket, whimsical ornament, or trifle

2. a whim or caprice

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Etymology

Origin of whigmaleerie

1720–30; originally Scots, earlier figmalirie, perhaps with fig ( fidget, whig ); for -ma-, rigmarole, thingamajig

Example Sentences

Whigmaleerie, as to the derivation of which you seem to be in some perplexity, is in Norwegian Vægmaleri.

From Project Gutenberg