whimmydiddle
An Appalachian stick toy that spins a little propeller when you rub the notches.
Also called gee-haw whimmy diddle, whimmy-diddle, hooey stick.
Updated September 24, 2026
whimmydiddle pronunciation
/WIM-ee-did-ul/
Meaning
Mountain folk toy, often called a gee-haw whimmy diddle. One stick has notches and a loose propeller nailed on the end. Rub another stick across the notches and the propeller whirls. Shift your grip and say gee or haw (old plow commands for right and left) and you can flip the spin. Parents whittled them out of mountain laurel for kids. Folks also use the name loosely for any little noisy homemade contraption.
How folks use it
- “Pap whittled me a whimmydiddle out of a laurel stick.”
- “He sat on the porch gee-hawing that whimmydiddle for an hour.”
Origin and etymology
Traditional Appalachian wooden toy. NCpedia describes the mountain-laurel version parents made for children. Dictionary of Smoky Mountain English defines the gee-haw whimmy diddle: rub notches to spin the propeller, then gee or haw to change direction. Also called hooey stick or whammy doodle. Asheville even hosts a whimmy-diddle contest.
Frequently asked questions
Why gee and haw?
Those are old farm words for telling a plow animal right (gee) or left (haw). On the toy they name the spin directions.