dervish

[ dur-vish ]

noun

1. a member of any of various Muslim ascetic orders, as the Sufis, some of which carry on ecstatic observances, such as energetic dancing and whirling or vociferous chanting or shouting.

dervish

/ ˈdɜːvɪʃ /

noun

1. a member of any of various Muslim orders of ascetics, some of which ( whirling dervishes ) are noted for a frenzied, ecstatic, whirling dance

Derived Forms

• ˈdervish-ˌlike, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dervish¹

1575–85; < Turkish < Persian darvīsh poor man, beggar

Word History and Origins

Origin of dervish¹

C16: from Turkish: beggar, from Persian darvīsh mendicant monk

Example Sentences

The Liverpool teenager, on loan at Middlesbrough, was a whirling dervish, a human blur taking the fight to Croatia.

From BBC

A man in the back of the room played a sweeping note on his flute, and the dervish, who must have arranged for a herald, stepped out into the open.

From Literature

When Wilder came in last time he was like a whirling dervish.

From BBC

It’s a tough job, but Rebecca, an ebullient, wisecracking, fist-bumping whirling dervish, is more than up to the task and Sherman plays the offbeat role to the hilt.

From Los Angeles Times

During Ultimate, I felt like I was chasing a whirling dervish around the field.

From Seattle Times