whigmaleerie

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

noun

a whim; notion.
a whimsical or fanciful ornament or contrivance; gimmick.

Origin of whigmaleerie

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

Example sentences from the Web for whigmaleerie

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

British Dictionary definitions for whigmaleerie

whigmaleerie
/ (ˌhwɪɡməˈliːrɪ) /

noun Scot

a trinket, whimsical ornament, or trifle
a whim or caprice

Word Origin for whigmaleerie

C18: of unknown origin