"at time past" (archaic), c. 1200, from Old English hwilum "at times," dative case of while (q.v.). As a conjunction from 1610s. Similar formation in German weiland "formerly."
whiffle
Whig
Whiggery
Whiggish
while
whilom
whilst
whim
whimper
whimsical
whimsy
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