Catherine wheel

American  

noun

1. a firework that revolves on a pin, making a wheel of fire or sparks; pinwheel.

2. wheel window.

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Catherine wheel British  

noun

1. Also called: pinwheel.  a type of firework consisting of a powder-filled spiral tube, mounted with a pin through its centre. When lit it rotates quickly, producing a display of sparks and coloured flame

2. a circular window having ribs radiating from the centre

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Etymology

Origin of Catherine wheel

1175–1225; Middle English; named after St. Catherine of Alexandria, from wheel used to torture her

Example Sentences

Set to Carl Orff’s dramatic score, the production includes a giant moving Catherine wheel and a live chorus seated on a floating platform above the stage.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 7, 2022

And the late conservative justice Antonin Scalia will spin like a Catherine wheel in the grave.

From The Guardian • Oct. 29, 2016

Like Frances, she sizzles and sparkles like a human Catherine wheel, but beneath the delirium is a whiff of despair.

From The Guardian • Aug. 16, 2015

LiVolsi pointed to what looked like a whipping Catherine wheel, with spikes that spurted powder into paper packets, 50 blurring past in every second.

From New York Times • Jan. 1, 2014

Chow let go his hold, fell backward, and one pole being thus released, the boat lost its equilibrium, the pole of Nicholas snapped, and she swang round like a Catherine wheel.

From The War Tiger Or, Adventures and Wonderful Fortunes of the Young Sea Chief and His Lad Chow: A Tale of the Conquest of China by Dalton, William