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.
