whim
/hwɪm/noun
1
- a sudden desire or change of mind, especially one that is unusual or unexplained突然产生的念头; 一闪而过的念头; 异想天开的念头; 怪念头：
she bought it on a whim
她一时心血来潮地买了它
mass noun he appeared and disappeared at whim.他随心所欲地现身或消失。
2
- archaic a windlass for raising ore or water from a mine〈古〉（提升矿石或打水用的）绞绳滚筒, 绞盘。
词源
late 17th cent.: of unknown origin. Sense 2 （mid 18th cent. ） is a transferred use.