Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
WHEERIORUM, n. Also whereaorum. A trifle, toy, gew-gaw; a “thingummyjig” or object of which the function is not immediately apparent, hence a complicated piece of mechanism (Bnff., Abd. c.1930; n.Sc. 1974).Bnff. 1891 W. Grant Anecdotes 107:
Moore got a lady's muff to announce at the Kirk, and not knowing what to call it, shouted to the immense amusement of the crowds of people who heard him — “Who's lost his whereaorum?!”Abd. 1925:
Any complicated machine will have a lot of wheeriorums about it which puzzlcs the lay mind.
