whim shaft

1 definition found

whim shaft - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Whim \Whim\, n. [Cf. Icel. hwima to wander with the eyes, vim
     giddiness, Norw. kvima to whisk or flutter about, to trifle,
     Dan. vimse to skip, whisk, jump from one thing to another,
     dial. Sw. hvimsa to be unsteady, dizzy, W. chwimio to move
     briskly.]
     [1913 Webster]
     1. A sudden turn or start of the mind; a temporary
        eccentricity; a freak; a fancy; a capricious notion; a
        humor; a caprice.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Let every man enjoy his whim.         --Churchill.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Mining) A large capstan or vertical drum turned by horse
        power or steam power, for raising ore or water, etc., from
        mines, or for other purposes; -- called also whim gin,
        and whimsey.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Whim gin (Mining), a whim. See Whim, 2.
  
     Whim shaft (Mining), a shaft through which ore, water,
        etc., is raised from a mine by means of a whim.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Syn: Freak; caprice; whimsey; fancy.
  
     Usage: Whim, Freak, Caprice. Freak denotes an
            impulsive, inconsiderate change of mind, as by a child
            or a lunatic. Whim is a mental eccentricity due to
            peculiar processes or habits of thought. Caprice is
            closely allied in meaning to freak, but implies more
            definitely a quality of willfulness or wantonness.
            [1913 Webster]