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consisting of a slat of wood tied to the end of a thong or string, with which the slat is whirled so as to cause an intermittent roaring noise. It is used as a toy, and among some races in certain religious rites.

A dangerous whirlpool on the coast of Sicily opposite Scylla on the Italian coast. It is personified as a female monster. See Scylla.

A vibrant or whirring noise such as that made by some insects, as the cockchafer, or by some birds, as the nightjar, the partridge, etc.

The act of turning, rolling, or whirling round. A certain turbulent and irregular circumgyration. Holland.

turning, rolling, or whirling round.

The act of rolling or revolving round, as a wheel; circumvolution; the state of being whirled round. J. Gregory.

An old game or sport (revived under this name) consisting in whirling on a string, fastened to two sticks, a small somewhat spool- shaped object (called the diabolo) so as to balance it on a string, toss it in the air and catch it, etc.

A discus; a quoit. Some whirl the disk, and some the javelin dart. Pope.

Giddiness; a whirling sensation in the head; vertigo.

Having in the head a sensation of whirling, with a tendency to fall; vertiginous; giddy; hence, confused; indistinct. Alas! his brain was dizzy. Drayton.

A current of water or air moving in a circular direction; a whirlpool. And smiling eddies dimpled on the main. Dryden. Wheel through the air, in circling eddies play. Addison.

To whirl hither and thither. [Obs.]

a key, gib, or cotter passing through a slot. -- Forelock hook (Rope Making), a winch or whirl by which a bunch of three yarns is twisted into a standard. Knight. -- To take time, or occasion, by the forelock, to make prompt use of anything; not to let slip an opportunity. Time is painted with a lock before and bald…

Having in the head a sensation of whirling or reeling about; having lost the power of preserving the balance of the body, and therefore wavering and inclined to fall; lightheaded; dizzy. By giddy head and staggering legs betrayed. Tate.

A top or whirligig; any little thing that is whirled round in play. Thou disputest like an infant; go, whip thy gig. Shak.

That which swallows irretrievably; a whirlpool; a sucking eddy. Shak. A gulf of ruin, swallowing gold. Tennyson.

Full of whirlpools or gulfs. Chapman.

A whirlpool. [Obs.] The plain, wherein a black bituminous gurge Boils out from under ground. Milton.

Moving in a circular path or way; whirling; gyratory.

The act of turning or whirling, as around a fixed center; a circular or spiral motion; motion about an axis; rotation; revolution. The gyrations of an ascending balloon. De Quincey. If a burning coal be nimbly moved round in a circle, with gyrations continually repeated, the whole circle will appear like fire. Sir I. N…