Whimsical and the related nouns whim and whimsy all ultimately derive from whim-wham, a noun from the early 16th century that originally referred to an ornamental object or trinket. Later whim-wham, with its fun sound, came to refer to a fantastic notion or odd fancy. The word's origin isn't clear, but it's worth noting that the similar-sounding flimflam had, in its earliest use, a similar meaning referring to an odd or nonsensical idea or tale. Whim naturally came about as a shortened form of whim-wham, and whimsy and whimsical eventually followed. Whimsical now describes more than just decisions made impulsively, but things resulting from an unrestrained imagination, as in "whimsical children's book characters."
You can practically taste the tropics in these whimsical doughnuts. Ripe bananas, toasted coconut and your favorite rum transform traditional doughnuts into paradisiacal ones. Janice Wald Henderson, Chocolatier, March 2001Unlike the broad slapstick humor of Musical Mose and other early Herriman strips, Krazy Kat was gentle, fey, and whimsical. Jeet Heer, Lingua Franca, September 2001In the whimsical linguistics of theoretical physics, the "naked" electron is an imaginary object cut off from the influences of the field, whereas a "dressed" electron carries the imprint of the universe, but it is all buried in extremely tiny modifications to its bare properties. Leon Lederman et al., The God Particle, 1993 She has a whimsical sense of humor. it's hard to make plans with such a whimsical best friend
Recent Examples on the WebUnder the direction of a professional choral director and an accomplished pianist, the programs feature holiday music, show tunes, old favorites, pop melodies, traditional, whimsical, gospel and rock ‘n’ roll.cleveland, 3 Sep. 2022 Notably, contemporary Instagram influencers have newly cottoned to the brand’s whimsical (and wildly expensive) clutches. Jacob Gallagher, WSJ, 22 Aug. 2022 Since then have come many critters: whimsical, smiling birds, dragons, owls, space aliens, cats, crabs and more, placed by Cousin on trees and in fields, at schools and at hospitals, at intersections and along busy roadsides. Matt Soergel, Orlando Sentinel, 23 July 2022 The runway offerings have gone from the whimsical — sweaters with trompe l’oeil breasts! José Criales-unzueta, Vogue, 18 Aug. 2022 Folding chairs are a practical yet whimsical decorating idea for a small patio since they can easily be moved around to make space for other activities. Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Aug. 2022 The new collection consists of an array of stylish wallpapers, fabrics, pillows, and trims, all adorned with whimsical and sweet motifs. Sophie Dweck, Town & Country, 16 Aug. 2022 In the world of fashion, works by some of the greats were informed by the mythical, magical and whimsical images conjured by the East. Bianca Salonga, Forbes, 10 Aug. 2022 This sculpture park has two trails: one featuring pieces made largely with natural materials that blend in with the landscape, and another designed with more whimsical and child-friendly works. Liza Weisstuch, Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2022 See More