Start of a query to a practical tailor

• "___ happening?"
• "___ the word?"
• "___ Up, Doc?": 1972 film
• "___ up?"
• "___ in a name?"
• Start of a riddle
• "___ shaking?"
• Preceder of his name?

Wiktionary Word definitions in Wiktionary
n. (plural of what English) Used as a stand-in to collectively pluralize arbitrary instances of things. Often used along with whys, hows, etc.