As an Adverb is a word that generally answers the questions with 'how', 'when', 'where' and 'why', only these four WH words of degree used in asking questions are branded as interrogative adverbs and grammar books mostly group WHAT with 'who', 'whom', 'whose'& 'which' as interrogative pronoun — mere substitutions. That said we cannot deny 'what' of its adverbial usages.
< What happened to your old car?>
Again when 'what' assumes the meaning "in what way" ie. imbibing the sense of 'how' or 'why', it has its adverbial uses.
< What does it matter?(How does it matter?>
< What does she care?— meaning why it is important to her.>
When WHAT means "such':-
- What a beautiful day!
- What awful weather we've been having!
WHAT usually happens to be followed by 'with' meaning " in some manner of degree" and is used adverbially.< What with singing and dancing, the time passed by.>
There are certain obsolete and archaic usage where "what" is adverbial:
1.< What do I stand reckoning?(why)>
2.< What by water, what by land/tyl that they came nyghe vnto london.(to introduce coordinate concepts.>
— not to mention those examples in the post.
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