-whir-

n. A buzzing or whizzing sound produced by rapid or whirling motion; as, the whir of a partridge; the whir of a spinning wheel. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Whirred p. pr. & vb. n. Whirring. ] [ Perhaps of imitative origin; cf. D. hvirre to whirl, and E. hurr, hurry, whirl. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;. ] To whirl round, or revolve, with a whizzing noise; to fly or more quickly with a buzzing or whizzing sound; to whiz. [ 1913 Webster ]

The partridge bursts away on whirring wings. Beattie. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Dan. hvirvel, Sw. hvirfvel, Icel. hvirfill the crown of the head, G. wirbel whirl, crown of the head, D. wervel. See Whirl, v. t. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A turning with rapidity or velocity; rapid rotation or circumvolution; quick gyration; rapid or confusing motion; as, the whirl of a top; the whirl of a wheel. “In no breathless whirl.” J. H. Newman. [ 1913 Webster ]

The rapid . . . whirl of things here below interrupt not the inviolable rest and calmness of the noble beings above. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Anything that moves with a whirling motion. [ 1913 Webster ]

He saw Falmouth under gray, iron skies, and whirls of March dust. Carlyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A revolving hook used in twisting, as the hooked spindle of a rope machine, to which the threads to be twisted are attached. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Bot. & Zool.) A whorl. See Whorl. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Whirled p. pr. & vb. n. Whirling. ] [ OE. whirlen, probably from the Scand.; cf. Icel. & Sw. hvirfla, Dan. hvirvle; akin to D. wervelen, G. wirbeln, freq. of the verb seen in Icel. hverfa to turn. √16. See Wharf, and cf. Warble, Whorl. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To turn round rapidly; to cause to rotate with velocity; to make to revolve. [ 1913 Webster ]

He whirls his sword around without delay. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To remove or carry quickly with, or as with, a revolving motion; to snatch; to harry. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

See, see the chariot, and those rushing wheels,
That whirled the prophet up at Chebar flood. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

The passionate heart of the poet is whirl'd into folly. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To be turned round rapidly; to move round with velocity; to revolve or rotate with great speed; to gyrate. “The whirling year vainly my dizzy eyes pursue.” J. H. Newman. [ 1913 Webster ]

The wooden engine flies and whirls about. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To move hastily or swiftly. [ 1913 Webster ]

But whirled away to shun his hateful sight. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Something that whirls or turns about in a rapid manner; a whirligig. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Anything moved with a whirl, as preparatory for a blow, or to augment the force of it; -- applied by poets to the cestus of ancient boxers. [ 1913 Webster ]

The whirlbat and the rapid race shall be
Reserved for Caesar. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A whirling blast or wind. [ 1913 Webster ]

A whirl-blast from behind the hill. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]