willies

The meaning "spell of nervousness", recorded since 1896, stems perhaps from the woollies, a dialectal term for "nervous uneasiness", probably in reference to the physical itchiness of wool garments.

Or it might be a play on words relating to the ballet Giselle, performed 1846 in Paris, where the stage is flooded by the Wilis, who are the spooky, ephemeral, beautiful but evil ghosts of virgins who died before their wedding day. Watching the Wilis in Giselle is meant to give you the willies. Most English speakers pronounce 'Wilis' as 'willies'.

willies

1. plural of willy

willies pl (plural only)

1. (colloquial, with "the") A feeling of nervousness or fear.

   Staying in the haunted house gave me the willies.

   • 1974, Joseph Heller, Something happened, page 3:

     I get the willies when I see closed doors. Even at work, where I am doing so well now, the sight of a closed door is sometimes enough to make me dread that something horrible is happening behind it, something that is going to affect me adversely.

• (anxiety): creeps, heebie-jeebies, collywobbles
• (anxiety): see Thesaurus:fear

• Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “willies”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.