ˈwhirl-about
† 1. A name for some kind of whale: cf. whirl-whale (whirl- in Comb.), whirlpool1. rare—1.
| 1591 Sylvester Du Bartas i. v. 98 The monstrous Whirl⁓about [F. l'énorme Senedete], Which in the Sea another Sea doth spout. |
2. The action of whirling about; something that whirls about, or is in a whirl; attrib. or adj. characterized by whirling about.
| 1786 C. Morris Songs (1788) 8 While thro' this whirl⁓about journey [sc. life] we reel. 1857 Palgrave Norm. & Eng. II. 30 There is such a whirlabout amongst the parties in these transactions, always changing sides. 1863 Kingsley Water-Bab. vii, His little whirl-about of a head. |