Hypertext Webster Gateway: "whir"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Whir \Whir\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Whirred}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Whirring}.] [Perhaps of imitative origin; cf. D. hvirre to
whirl, and E. hurr, hurry, whirl. ???.]
To whirl round, or revolve, with a whizzing noise; to fly or
more quickly with a buzzing or whizzing sound; to whiz.
The partridge bursts away on whirring wings. --Beattie.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Whir \Whir\, v. t. [See {Whir} to whiz.]
To hurry a long with a whizzing sound. [R.]
This world to me is like a lasting storm, Whirring me
from my friends. --Shak.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Whir \Whir\, n.
A buzzing or whizzing sound produced by rapid or whirling
motion; as, the whir of a partridge; the whir of a spinning
wheel.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
whir
n : sound of something in rapid motion: "whir of a bird's
wings"; "the whir of the propellers" [syn: {whirr}, {whirring},
{birr}]
v : make a soft swishing sound, as of a motor working or wings
flapping [syn: {whizz}, {whiz}, {whirr}, {birr}, {purr}]
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