Logo
Knowlege and resources
Home

About

Useful Links

Contact Us

Valid HTML 4.01 Transitional

Trivia and Information

Definitions

Definition of Whirlegig

Whirl"i*gig (?), n. [Whirl + gig.]

1. A child's toy, spun or whirled around like a wheel upon an axis, or like a top. Johnson.

2. Anything which whirls around, or in which persons or things are whirled about, as a frame with seats or wooden horses.

With a whirligig of jubilant mosquitoes spinning about each head.
G. W. Cable.

3. A mediæval instrument for punishing petty offenders, being a kind of wooden cage turning on a pivot, in which the offender was whirled round with great velocity.

4. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of beetles belonging to Gyrinus and allied genera. The body is firm, oval or boatlike in form, and usually dark colored with a bronzelike luster. These beetles live mostly on the surface of water, and move about with great celerity in a gyrating, or circular, manner, but they are also able to dive and swim rapidly. The larva is aquatic. Called also weaver, whirlwig, and whirlwig beetle.

Whirl"i*gig (?), n. [Whirl + gig.]

1. A child's toy, spun or whirled around like a wheel upon an axis, or like a top. Johnson.

2. Anything which whirls around, or in which persons or things are whirled about, as a frame with seats or wooden horses.

With a whirligig of jubilant mosquitoes spinning about each head.
G. W. Cable.

3. A mediæval instrument for punishing petty offenders, being a kind of wooden cage turning on a pivot, in which the offender was whirled round with great velocity.

4. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of beetles belonging to Gyrinus and allied genera. The body is firm, oval or boatlike in form, and usually dark colored with a bronzelike luster. These beetles live mostly on the surface of water, and move about with great celerity in a gyrating, or circular, manner, but they are also able to dive and swim rapidly. The larva is aquatic. Called also weaver, whirlwig, and whirlwig beetle.

- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

  • Anything that whirls or spins around.
  • A whirligig beetle.
  • A device for punishing prisoners comprising a wooden cage that rapidly spins around.
- The Nuttall Encyclopedia

You arrived at this page by searching for Whirlegig
The correct Spelling of this word is: Whirligig

Thank you for visiting FreeFactFinder. On our home page you will find extensive articles covering a wide range of topics.



Home | A to Z | About | Contact Us | Related Links