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Willy Nilly

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Uzoma | 05:43 Fri 20th Apr 2001 | Phrases & Sayings
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Can someone please tell me where the phrase 'Willy Nilly' originates?
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Avatar Image janelh
According to my dictionary it's from one of the Australian Aboriginal languages, and it means a dust storm.
11:00 Fri 20th Apr 2001
Avatar Image allen ives
The Australian dust-storm is Willy Willy. Willy Nilly, i.e. whether you want to or not, comes from the Latin Volens Nolens, or grammatically Nolens Volens. Pronounce the V as a W.
15:16 Fri 20th Apr 2001
Avatar Image JohnThorn
Willy nilly is a corrupted form of 'will he, nill he'. 'Nill' is an obsolete word being the negative of 'will' - roughly meaning 'won't'. So 'willy nilly' means ' whether he will or won't'.
13:30 Tue 01st May 2001

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