The Origin of "The Willies"

As in: Snakes give me the willies. We'll also talk snakes.

May 27, 2022

Greetings!

Another week has come and gone so quickly! It feels like just yesterday I was planting flowers in our yard, but really, it was four days ago now.

If you've ever wondered if you could cut your lawn with a weed whacker, the answer is yes. It's not terribly efficient, but when your lawnmowers are not working, you work with what you've got. Or, I do, anyway. I also managed to obtain the number for our neighbor's lawn service. :)

Where Did That Come From?

My first story below is about snakes. Though I am somewhat intrigued by snakes, they also kind of creep me out. I have to admit that even looking for photos to accompany the article gave me the willies, especially the picture of the snake gliding across the top of the water. That is just wrong on so many levels.

Then I started wondering where the phrase "the willies," meaning feeling uneasy or frightened, came from. I thought there would be an easy answer. There isn't. There seem to be several theories about the origin of the phrase.

The term "wilis" (apparently pronounced "willies") appears in Slavic folklore in reference to fairy-like creatures of nature that are associated with both good and bad luck. In the cases of those bringing about misfortune, or even death, this may tie in with the creeped out feeling of "the willies." The ballet Giselle features wilis, so some say the popularization of the phrase "the willies" may have come from there.

Others claim the term is from "woolies," the scratchy long undergarments worn by frontiers of the American West. Since they were not especially comfortable, it is thought that the nervous, itching sensation caused by them may have been called "the willies."

Yet another origin story centers around sports. There was a time when baseball legends Willie Mays and Willie McCovey were back to back in the SF Giants lineup. They gave opposing pitchers “the willies," or a case of the nerves, with their hitting power.

I must admit, the results of that search for meaning wasn't especially satisfying. I decided to try another one. How about "raining cats and dogs"?

Let me tell you, this one was not any easier to discover the origins of than "the willies."

The first reference was thought to be a 1651 poem by Henry Vaughan where he refers to a roof that is secure against "dogs and cats rained in shower." It shows up again later in plays and books, a popular one being Jonathan Swift's Complete Collection of Genteel and Ingenious Conversations (published in 1738). This was a satire about the upper class in which one of the characters fears it will rain cats and dogs.

There is some speculation about the phrase's origins laying in Norse mythology with Odin being pictured with dogs as symbols of the wind, and witches with cats, symbolizing heavy rain. So, there might be something there about dogs, cats and stormy weather.

Yet another origin idea is that it is similar to the Greek "cata doxa" which mans contrary to experience or belief. So, raining cats and dogs would mean it's raining unbelievably hard.

I guess there are no easy answers when it comes to origin stories. Except Spider Man. It started with a bite from a radioactive spider. Easy.

This Week:

Do Snakes Make Your Heart Race and Your Head Pound?

Maybe you're asking yourself, why would anybody write about snakes? It's a good question. Lots of people, including me, are a bit creeped out by them. Kola and I came across one recently, which inspired this venture into snakedom.

Animal Communication: Is My Cat Listening?

From the Archives: I'm talking but is my cat listening? I'm listening but am I truly hearing?

Behind-the-Scenes:

My daughter found these tiny guys on the bottom of a pot she brought inside the house. Glad she looked! I'm not sure if I would have. Despite their reputations for slowness, both the slug and the snail were quite speedy as they traversed her hand!

I was thrilled to get out last week and shop for some annuals and perennials to brighten up the yard and deck. I got them all planted this past weekend. I also got myself something special - a big, gorgeous fuchsia basket. I've wanted to get one for years, but haven't because I felt like it was a frivolous expense. This year, I decided the pleasure it will bring us, especially me, is well worth it.

Favorite Fun Stuff:

I love learning about animals, especially ones that are not very familiar to those of us in the US. This week, I enjoyed a video about kinkajous. They are small, almost monkey-like carnivores that have some pretty interesting abilities.

Kinkajou Facts! Meet The Honey Bear!

As you may know, if you've been reading my stuff for a while, I am a big believer in bonding with cats through brushing. This video of a woman taming a feral kitty shows she also finds the brush works miracles. Warning: video contains lots of cuteness.

Giving A Hissing Feral Kitten A Bath And This Happens... | The Dodo Faith = Restored

Confession Time:

I sometimes put jam on grilled cheese sandwiches. Homemade strawberry or blackberry are my favorites. I know it sounds weird. I thought so too, but when a friend challenged me to try it, I gave it a shot. It's pretty tasty!

We are finally taking our first RV trip of the year. This will only be our third trip in our new-to-us RV that we got last fall. We’re heading to the Oregon Coast for a few days of rest and relaxation. In order to really appreciate my downtime, there will not be a newsletter next week. So, have a wonderful couple of weeks, and I’ll be in touch soon.

Peace,

Dakota Duncan

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