whirligig

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word whirligig. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word whirligig, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say whirligig in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word whirligig you have here. The definition of the word whirligig will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofwhirligig, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

English

WOTD – 10 July 2008
English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia
Whirligig, kinetic art
Public library, O'Fallon, Illinois

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English whirlegigge; equivalent to whirl (noun or verb) +‎ gig (“a top”).

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈwɜː.lɪ.ɡɪɡ/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈwɝ.lɪ.ɡɪɡ/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

whirligig (plural whirligigs)

  1. Anything that whirls or spins around, such as a toy top or a merry-go-round.
    • c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, , page 275, columns 1–2:
      Why ſome are borne great, ſome atchieue greatneſſe, and ſome haue greatneſſe throwne vpon them. I was one ſir, in this Enterlude, one ſir Topas ſir, but that’s all one: By the Lod Foole, I am not mad: but do you remember, Madam, why laugh you at ſuch a barren raſcall, and you ſmile not he’s gag’d: and thus the whirlegigge of time, brings in his reuenges.
  2. A device incorporating spinning, wind-driven propellers or pinwheels, used as whimsical outdoor decoration in a garden or on a porch.
  3. A whirligig beetle.
  4. (historical) A device for punishing prisoners, comprising a wooden cage that rapidly spins around to induce nausea.

Derived terms

Translations

See also

Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia