whirligig en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /ˈwɝ.lɪ.ɡɪɡ/ (US)
- /ˈwɜː.lɪ.ɡɪɡ/ (UK)
Etymology
From Middle English whyrlegygge; equivalent to whirl (noun or verb) + gig (“a top”).
Meanings
- Anything that whirls or spins around, such as a toy top or a merry-go-round.
- A device incorporating spinning, wind-driven propellers or pinwheels, used as whimsical outdoor decoration in a garden or on a porch.
-
(abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis) Ellipsis of whirligig beetle.
alt of whirligig beetle
- (historical) A device for punishing prisoners, comprising a wooden cage that rapidly spins around to induce nausea.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| whirligigs | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| whirlygig | alternative | lexicographic | |
| whirlgig | alternative | lexicographic |
Deriveds
whirligig of time · whirligig beetle
Translations (8)
tr fırıldak (anything that whirls or spins around, such as a toy) · ru вертушка (anything that whirls or spins around, such as a toy) · bg въртележка (anything that whirls or spins around, such as a toy) · bg пумпал (anything that whirls or spins around, such as a toy) · fi väkkyrä (anything that whirls or spins around, such as a toy) · mi takawairore (anything that whirls or spins around, such as a toy) · cs větrník (anything that whirls or spins around, such as a toy) · mi tararī (anything that whirls or spins around, such as a toy)