/hwam"ee, wam"ee/ , n. , pl. whammies . Informal.
1. the evil eye; jinx.
2. bad luck or misfortune.
3. a devastating blow, setback, or catastrophe: The drought and the high price of fertilizer are a double whammy to farmers.
4. put the whammy on ,
a. to give the evil eye to; jinx.
b. to destroy, end, or eradicate: New controls will put the whammy on irresponsible spending.
[ 1935-40; WHAM + -Y 2 , one of the methods of putting a whammy on someone being to strike the fist into the palm ]