whirl

whirl
{{11}}whirl (n.) early 15c., "flywheel of a spindle," from WHIRL (Cf. whirl) (v.). The meaning "act of whirling" is recorded from late 15c.; figurative sense of "confused activity" is recorded from 1550s. Colloquial sense of "tentative attempt" is attested from 1884, Amer.Eng.
{{12}}whirl (v.) late 13c., probably from O.N. hvirfla "to go round, spin," related to hvirfill "circle, ring, crown," and to O.E. hweorfan "to turn" (see WHIR (Cf. whir)). Whirlybird "helicopter" is from 1951.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Whirl — Whirl, n. [Cf. Dan. hvirvel, Sw. hvirfvel, Icel. hvirfill the crown of the head, G. wirbel whirl, crown of the head, D. wervel. See {Whirl}, v. t.] [1913 Webster] 1. A turning with rapidity or velocity; rapid rotation or circumvolution; quick… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • whirl — whirl; whirl·er; whirl·ey; whirl·i·cote; whirl·ing·ly; whirl·wig; whirl·i·gig; …   English syllables

  • Whirl — may refer to: * Whirl (Transformers), a Transformers toy * Tilt A Whirl, a type of amusement ride * Atomic whirl, a symbol of atheism * Whirl (programming language) * Whirl magazine, a luxury lifestyle magazine in Pittsburgh, PA …   Wikipedia

  • whirl — ► VERB 1) move rapidly round and round. 2) (of the head or mind) seem to spin round. ► NOUN 1) a rapid movement round and round. 2) frantic activity: the mad social whirl. 3) a sweet or biscuit with a spiral shape. ● …   English terms dictionary

  • whirl|y — «HWUR lee», adjective, whirl|i|er, whirl|i|est, noun, plural whirl|ies. –adj. that can whirl; whirling: »There are some dresses of red and white checked gingham with whirly skirts …   Useful english dictionary

  • whirl — [n1] spin, revolution circle, circuit, circulation, circumvolution, flurry, gyration, gyre, pirouette, reel, roll, rotation, round, surge, swirl, turn, twirl, twist, wheel, whir, whirlpool; concepts 152,738 whirl [n2] commotion, confusion ado*,… …   New thesaurus

  • whirl — [hwʉrl, wʉrl] vi. [ME whirlen < ON hvirfla, akin to hverfa: see WHIR] 1. to move rapidly in a circular manner or as in an orbit; circle swiftly [couples whirling round the dance floor] 2. to rotate or spin fast; gyrate 3. to move, go, drive,… …   English World dictionary

  • Whirl — Whirl, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Whirled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Whirling}.] [OE. whirlen, probably from the Scand.; cf. Icel. & Sw. hvirfla, Dan. hvirvle; akin to D. wervelen, G. wirbeln, freq. of the verb seen in Icel. hverfa to turn. [root]16. See… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Whirl — Whirl, v. i. [1913 Webster] 1. To be turned round rapidly; to move round with velocity; to revolve or rotate with great speed; to gyrate. The whirling year vainly my dizzy eyes pursue. J. H. Newman. [1913 Webster] The wooden engine flies and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • whirl — index commotion Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • whirl — vb 1 twirl, spin, wheel, swirl, *turn, revolve, rotate, gyrate, circle, pirouette, eddy 2 *reel, stagger, totter …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

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