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swirling

 [swurl]   Origin

swirl

   [swurl]
verb (used without object)
1.
to move around or along with a whirling motion; whirl; eddy.
2.
to be dizzy or giddy, as the head.
verb (used with object)
3.
to cause to whirl; twist.

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Swirling is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
noun
4.
a swirling movement; whirl; eddy.
5.
a twist, as of hair around the head or of trimming on a hat.
6.
any curving, twisting line, shape, or form.
7.
confusion; disorder.
Origin:
1375–1425; late Middle English (north) < Scandinavian; compare Norwegian svirla; cognate with Dutch zwirrelen to whirl, German (dial.) schwirrlen to totter; all < a root *swir- (whence Danish svirre to whirl, German schwirren to whir) + -l- frequentative suffix

Related forms
swirl·ing·ly, adverb
out·swirl, verb (used with object)

Synonyms
2. reel, spin.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To swirling
Collins
World English Dictionary
swirl (swɜːl)
 
—vb
1.  to turn or cause to turn in a twisting spinning fashion
2.  (intr) to be dizzy; swim: my head was swirling
 
—n
3.  a whirling or spinning motion, esp in water
4.  a whorl; curl
5.  the act of swirling or stirring
6.  dizzy confusion
 
[C15: probably from Dutch zwirrelen; related to Norwegian svirla, German schwirren]
 
'swirling
 
—adj
 
'swirlingly
 
—adv
 
'swirly
 
—adj

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

swirl
early 15c., "whirlpool, eddy," originally Scottish, perhaps related to dialectal Norw. svirla or Du. zwirrelen "to whirl." The meaning "whirling movement" is from 1818. The verb is attested from 1510s, with an isolated instance from 14c.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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