Whirligig definition

wûrlĭ-gĭg, hwûr-
whirligigs
See word origin
Frequency:
Any of various spinning toys.
noun
2
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A carousel; a merry-go-round.
noun
2
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Something that continuously whirls.
noun
2
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(old-fashioned) Any of various child's toys that whirl or spin, as a pinwheel or top.
noun
2
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noun
2
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A whirligig beetle.
noun
1
1
Something that seems to whirl, or revolve in a cycle.
noun
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A whirling motion or course.
noun
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Anything that whirls or spins around, such as a toy top.
noun
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A whirligig beetle.
noun
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A device for punishing prisoners comprising a wooden cage that rapidly spins around.
noun
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Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
whirligig
Plural:
whirligigs

Origin of whirligig

  • Middle English whirlegigge whirlen whirl whirl -gigge something that rotates (possibly of Scandinavian origin) (akin to gig)

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English whirlegigge.

    From Wiktionary