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.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) |