2. To move hastily or swiftly.
But whirled away to shun his hateful sight.
Dryden. 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. & Zoöl.) A whorl. See Whorl.
Whirlabout
(Whirl"a*bout`) n. Something that whirls or turns about in a rapid manner; a whirligig.
Whirlbat
(Whirl"bat`) n. Anything moved with a whirl, as preparatory for a blow, or to augment the force
of it; — applied by poets to the cestus of ancient boxers.
The whirlbat and the rapid race shall be
Reserved for Cæsar.
Dryden. Whirl-blast
(Whirl"-blast`) n. A whirling blast or wind.
A whirl-blast from behind the hill.
Wordsworth. Whirlbone
(Whirl"bone`) n. (Anat.) (a) The huckle bone. [Obs.] (b) The patella, or kneepan. [Obs.]
Ainsworth.
Whirler
(Whirl"er) n. One who, or that which, whirls.
Whirlicote
(Whirl"i*cote) n. An open car or chariot. [Obs.]
Of old time coaches were not known in this island, but chariots, or whirlicotes.
Stow. Whirligig
(Whirl"i*gig) n. [Whirl + gig.]
1. A child's toy, spun or whirled around like a wheel upon an axis, or like a top. Johnson.
2. Anything which whirls around, or in which persons or things are whirled about, as a frame with seats
or wooden horses.
With a whirligig of jubilant mosquitoes spinning about each head.
G. W. Cable. 3. A mediæval instrument for punishing petty offenders, being a kind of wooden cage turning on a pivot,
in which the offender was whirled round with great velocity.
4. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of beetles belonging to Gyrinus and allied genera. The body
is firm, oval or boatlike in form, and usually dark colored with a bronzelike luster. These beetles live
mostly on the surface of water, and move about with great celerity in a gyrating, or circular, manner, but
