In today's local paper a writer I respect used the word williwog in this context:

They [old hotels] were wrapped in ample, elevated, railed porches where guests enjoyed
evening williwogs wafting in from the sea.

I can't find hide nor hair of williwog. I did, however, find williwaw widely documented with the same meaning:

Merriam Websters:

Main Entry: wil.li.waw
Pronunciation: 'wi-li-"wo
Function: noun
Etymology: origin unknown
Date: 1842
1 a : a sudden violent gust of cold land air common along mountainous
coasts of high latitudes b : a sudden violent wind
2 : a violent commotion

Did he use an incorrect, or another even more obsolete, form of williwaw? Is williwog just another one of those spelling variants as in sockdologer[?] (I have at least three cited spelling variants for this one). Has anyone ever hear of, or used, williwog or williwaw?

And notice williwaw's origin unknown...what is it with these "willie" words?...no trace of origins? Or is williwaw a clue toward our never-found "willies" origin? Makes sense...since a violent breeze is a disturbance.

Or does all this just give you the willies?