Hypertext Webster Gateway: "whirl"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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.]
1. A turning with rapidity or velocity; rapid rotation or
circumvolution; quick gyration; rapid or confusing motion;
as, the whirl of a top; the whirl of a wheel. ``In no
breathless whirl.'' --J. H. Newman.
The rapid . . . whirl of things here below interrupt
not the inviolable rest and calmness of the noble
beings above. --South.
2. Anything that moves with a whirling motion.
He saw Falmouth under gray, iron skies, and whirls
of March dust. --Carlyle.
3. A revolving hook used in twisting, as the hooked spindle
of a rope machine, to which the threads to be twisted are
attached.
4. (Bot. & Zo["o]l.) A whorl. See {Whorl}.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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 {Wharf}, and cf. {Warble}, {Whorl}.]
1. To turn round rapidly; to cause to rotate with velocity;
to make to revolve.
He whirls his sword around without delay. --Dryden.
2. To remove or carry quickly with, or as with, a revolving
motion; to snatch; to harry. --Chaucer.
See, see the chariot, and those rushing wheels, That
whirled the prophet up at Chebar flood. --Milton.
The passionate heart of the poet is whirl'd into
folly. --Tennyson.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Whirl \Whirl\, v. i.
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.
The wooden engine flies and whirls about. --Dryden.
2. To move hastily or swiftly.
But whirled away to shun his hateful sight.
--Dryden.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
whirl
n 1: confused movement; "he was caught up in a whirl of work"; "a
commotion of people fought for the exits" [syn: {commotion}]
2: the shape of something rotating rapidly [syn: {swirl}, {vortex},
{convolution}]
3: a usually brief attempt; "he took a crack at it"; "I gave it
a whirl" [syn: {crack}, {fling}, {go}, {pass}, {offer}]
4: the act of rotating rapidly; "he gave the crank a spin"; "it
broke off after much twisting" [syn: {spin}, {twirl}, {twist},
{twisting}]
v 1: turn in a twisting or spinning motion; "The leaves swirled
in the autumn wind" [syn: {twirl}, {swirl}, {twiddle}]
2: cause to spin; "spin a coin" [syn: {birl}, {spin}, {twirl}]
3: flow in a circular current, of liquids [syn: {eddy}, {purl},
{whirlpool}, {swirl}]
4: revolve quickly and repeatedly around one's own axis; "The
dervishes whirl around and around without getting dizzy"
[syn: {spin}, {spin around}, {reel}, {gyrate}]
5: fly around, as of paper on the sidewalk, or clothes in a
dryer, or rising smoke in the wind [syn: {skirl}, {tumble},
{whirl around}]
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