maelstrom

[ meyl-struhm ]
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noun
  1. a large, powerful, or violent whirlpool.

  2. a restless, disordered, or tumultuous state of affairs: the maelstrom of early morning traffic.

  1. (initial capital letter) a famous hazardous whirlpool off the NW coast of Norway.

Origin of maelstrom

1
1550–60 for def. 3; <early Dutch maelstroom, now spelling maalstroom, representing mal(en) to grind + stroom stream. See meal2, stream

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British Dictionary definitions for maelstrom (1 of 2)

maelstrom

/ (ˈmeɪlstrəʊm) /


noun
  1. a large powerful whirlpool

  2. any turbulent confusion

Origin of maelstrom

1
C17: from obsolete Dutch maelstroom, from malen to grind, whirl round + stroom stream

British Dictionary definitions for Maelstrom (2 of 2)

Maelstrom

/ (ˈmeɪlstrəʊm) /


noun
  1. a strong tidal current in a restricted channel in the Lofoten Islands off the NW coast of Norway

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