* * *
Universalium. 2010.
Whirligig — Whirl i*gig, n. [Whirl + gig.] [1913 Webster] 1. A child s toy, spun or whirled around like a wheel upon an axis, or like a top. Johnson. [1913 Webster] 2. Anything which whirls around, or in which persons or things are whirled about, as a frame… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
whirligig — ► NOUN 1) a toy that spins round, e.g. a top or windmill. 2) another term for ROUNDABOUT(Cf. ↑roundabout) (in sense 2). 3) (also whirligig beetle) a small black water beetle which typically swims rapidly in circles on the surface. ORIGIN from… … English terms dictionary
whirligig — mid 15c., a child s toy, from WHIRL (Cf. whirl) (v.) + gig (see GIG (Cf. gig) (1)). Meaning anything in constant motion is from 1580s; fickle, flighty person is from c.1600; as a type of water beetle, from 1713 … Etymology dictionary
whirligig — [hwʉrl′i gig΄, wʉrl′i gig΄] n. [ME whirlgigge: see WHIRL & GIG1] 1. a child s toy that whirls or spins, as a pinwheel 2. MERRY GO ROUND 3. something that seems to whirl, or revolve in a cycle 4. a whirling motion or … English World dictionary
Whirligig — Segelschiffkarussel (Windspiel) Whirligig Kunsthandwerk … Deutsch Wikipedia
Whirligig — A whirligig is an object that spins or whirls, or has at least one member that spins or whirls in the wind. The word, derived from the verb to whirl, is known in English since 1440, originally for various spinning toys. [The Oxford English… … Wikipedia
whirligig — noun 1》 a toy that spins round, e.g. a top or windmill. 2》 another term for roundabout (in sense 2). 3》 a process or activity characterized by constant change or hectic activity: the whirligig of time. 4》 (also whirligig beetle) a small black… … English new terms dictionary
whirligig — UK [ˈwɜː(r)lɪˌɡɪɡ] / US [ˈwɜrlɪˌɡɪɡ] / US [ˈhwɜrlɪˌɡɪɡ] noun [countable] Word forms whirligig : singular whirligig plural whirligigs 1) a small toy that spins 2) literary anything that changes continuously … English dictionary
whirligig — noun /ˈwɜː.lɪ.ɡɪɡ,ˈwɝ.lɪ.ɡɪɡ/ a) Anything that whirls or spins around, such as a toy top. b) A whirligig beetle … Wiktionary
whirligig — n. 1 a spinning or whirling toy. 2 a merry go round. 3 a revolving motion. 4 anything regarded as hectic or constantly changing (the whirligig of time). 5 any freshwater beetle of the family Gyrinidae that circles about on the surface. Etymology … Useful english dictionary
