[A reduplicated term, of which the elements are unexplained; perhaps only whimsical: cf. flim-flam, trim-tram, whim-wham, etc. Connection with the first element of gimcrack is possible, but the latter is not found till later.]
† 1. A fanciful or trivial article, a gimcrack, a knick-knack. Obs. colloq.
a. 1500. Image of Hypocr., in Skelton’s Wks. (1843), II. 446. These be as knappishe knackes As ever man made, For iavells and for iackes, A iymiam for a iade.
1565. Harding, in Jewel, Def. Apol. (1611), 381. To shew vs … whether he had some iimjam made for him to take it vp, hold it and put it on handsomely.
1592. Nashe, P. Penilesse, 13. A thousand iymiams and toyes haue they in they chambers.
2. pl. Fantastic ways, peculiarities. colloq.
1899. Daily News, 16 Dec., 8/3. Oh, that’s all right. Every regiment has its little jim-jams.
3. pl. Delirium tremens. slang.
1885. J. Runciman, Skippers & Shellbacks, 42. I’ll die on the flags with the jim-jams before I’ll wet my lips with it again.
1897. ‘Zack’ (Gwendoline Keats), in Blackw. Mag., May, 702/2. One man … was just recovering from an attack of the jimjams.
