Hypertext Webster Gateway: "whorl"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Whorl \Whorl\, n. [OE. whorvil the whirl of a spindle; akin to
AS. hweorfa the whirl of a spindle, hweorfan to turn; cf. OD.
worvel the whirl of a spindle. See {Whirl}, n. & v.]
1. (Bot.) A circle of two or more leaves, flowers, or other
organs, about the same part or joint of a stem.
2. (Zo["o]l.) A volution, or turn, of the spire of a univalve
shell.
3. (Spinning) The fly of a spindle.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
whorl
n 1: a round shape formed by a series of concentric circles [syn:
{coil}, {roll}, {curl}, {curlicue}, {ringlet}, {gyre},
{scroll}]
2: a strand or cluster of hair [syn: {lock}, {curl}, {ringlet}]
3: a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous
series of loops; "a coil of rope" [syn: {coil}, {spiral},
{volute}, {helix}]
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