gee haw whimmy diddle

Definition

A wooden toy consisting of a notched stick with a smaller stick attached on the end. Rubbing the notched stick with another stick causes the smaller stick to spin; with practice the spin can be made to change from rightward (gee) to leftward (haw) and vice versa.

Example Sentences

• "…some of the Blue Ridge Mountain folk toys. Each of the following runs about $2: spinning wooden top, fox and geese game, gee-haw whimmy diddle, bull roarer, corn cob pipe."
• "Here you can pick up mountain toys such as the ‘gee-haw whimmy diddle,' a stick with a propeller that turns when you rub the notches on the stick."
• "Special events at the FolkArt Center...include Fiber Day in May, the World Gee Haw Whimmy Diddle Competition in August..."