ˌwherry-go-ˈnimble, n. Obs. colloq. and dial.
Also whirry-.
[f. wherry, var. of whirry n., whirry v.; cf. thorough-go-nimble s.v. thorough-, jerry-go-nimble s.v. jerry n.1 6.]
1. Looseness of the bowels; diarrhoea. Also in pl.
| 1766 E. Buys Sewel's Compl. Dict. Eng. & Dutch I. 922/2 The wherry-go-nimble, (a great looseness) Sterk aan de loop, aan den afgang zyn. 1821 in J. Gore Creevey's Life & Times (1934) 144 But lo! the wherry-go-nimbles, which had so unreasonably attacked the Royal stomach,..gave his Majesty full employment at the Phoenix Park. 1903 in Farmer & Henley Slang VII. 328/2. |
2. Used attrib. to designate something as contemptibly small or valueless. rare.
| 1901 ‘Zack’ Tales Dunstable Weir 139 I'll throw all they whirry-go-nimble tools o' yours at the back o' the kitchen-fire. |