whimwham†; crotchet, capriccio, quirk, freak, maggot, fad, vagary,
prank, fit, flimflam, escapade, boutade [Fr.], wild-goose chase;
capriciousness &c adj.; kink.
V. be capricious &c adj.; have a maggot in the brain; take it into
one's head, strain at a gnat and swallow a camel; blow hot and cold;
play fast and loose, play fantastic tricks; tourner casaque [Fr.].
Adj. capricious; erratic, eccentric, fitful, hysterical; full of whims
&c n.; maggoty; inconsistent, fanciful, fantastic, whimsical,
crotchety, kinky [U.S.], particular, humorsome†, freakish, skittish,
wanton, wayward; contrary; captious; arbitrary; unconformable &c 83;
penny wise and pound foolish; fickle &c (irresolute) 605; frivolous,
sleeveless, giddy, volatile.
Adv. by fits and starts, without rhyme or reason.
Phr. nil fuit unquain sic inipar sibi [Lat.]; the deuce is in him.