whirligig
Americannoun
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something that whirls or revolves.
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a whirling motion or course.
the whirligig of fashion.
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a giddy or flighty person.
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Dialect. a merry-go-round or carrousel.
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a toy for whirling or spinning, as a top.
noun
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any spinning toy, such as a top
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another name for merry-go-round
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anything that whirls about, spins, or moves in a circular or giddy way
the whirligig of social life
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another name for windmill
Etymology
Origin of whirligig
First recorded in 1400–50, whirligig is from the late Middle English word whirlegigge. See whirl, gig 3
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The play found its voice through the Broadway developmental process, and Metcalf’s imprint is unmistakable in the rhythms of Nora’s whirligig monologues and bracing retorts.
From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2025
"We've got damselflies and dragonflies, little water boatmen, whirligig beetles, water scorpions and because of all of them, we get all the birds that feed off them," he says.
From BBC • Feb. 1, 2024
But, “To really demonstrate if whirligig beetles are using lift, it’s necessary to deeply investigate the fluid dynamics,” not just track the movement of their legs, he cautions.
From Science Magazine • Jan. 8, 2024
For the whirligig beetle to achieve such fast swimming speeds, its legs would need to push against the water at unrealistic speeds.
From Science Daily • Jan. 8, 2024
She looked like a carved whirligig toy with six flying arms and a hopping head.
From "Fever 1793" by Laurie Halse Anderson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
