whirl

Definition

To rotate, revolve, spin or turn rapidly.

Etymology

From Middle English whirlen, contracted from earlier *whirvelen, *whervelen, possibly from Old English *hwyrflian, *hweorflian (attested in hwirflung, hwerflung (“change, vicissitude”)), frequentative form of Old English hweorfan (“to turn”), itself from Proto-West Germanic *hwerban, from Proto-Germanic *hwerbaną (“to turn”); or perhaps from Old Norse hvirfla (“to go round, spin”). Cognate with Dutch wervelen (“to whirl, swirl”), German wirbeln (“to whirl, swirl”), Danish hvirvle (“to whirl”), Swedish virvla (older spelling hvirfla), Albanian vorbull (“a whirl”). Related to whirr and wharve.

Example Sentences

• "The dancer whirled across the stage, stopped, and whirled around to face the audience."
• "The house whirled around two or three times and rose slowly through the air. Dorothy felt as if she were going up in a balloon."
• "My head is whirling after all that drink."