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eddy

[ed-ee]
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noun, plural ed·dies.
  1. a current at variance with the main current in a stream of liquid or gas, especially one having a rotary or whirling motion.
  2. a small whirlpool.
  3. any similar current, as of air, dust, or fog.
  4. a current or trend, as of opinion or events, running counter to the main current.
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verb (used with or without object), ed·died, ed·dy·ing.
  1. to move or whirl in eddies.
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Origin of eddy

1425–75; late Middle English; Old English ed- turning + ēa water; akin to Old Norse itha
Related formsun·ed·died, adjectiveun·ed·dy·ing, adjective

Eddy

[ed-ee]
noun
  1. Mary (Morse) BakerMrs. GloverMrs. Patterson, 1821–1910, U.S. founder of the Christian Science Church.
  2. Also Ed·die. a male given name, form of Edgar or Edward.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

whirlpoolswirltidevortex

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British Dictionary definitions for eddy

eddy

noun plural -dies
  1. a movement in a stream of air, water, or other fluid in which the current doubles back on itself causing a miniature whirlwind or whirlpool
  2. a deviation from or disturbance in the main trend of thought, life, etc, esp one that is relatively unimportant
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verb -dies, -dying or -died
  1. to move or cause to move against the main current
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Word Origin

C15: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse itha; related to Old English ed- again, back, Old High German it-

Eddy

noun
  1. Mary Baker. 1821–1910, US religious leader; founder of the Christian Science movement (1866)
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for eddy

n.

mid-15c., Scottish ydy, possibly from Old Norse iða "whirlpool," from Proto-Germanic *ith- "a second time, again," which is related to the common Old English prefix ed- "again, backwards; repetition, turning" (forming such words as edðingung "reconciliation," edgift "restitution," edniwian "to renew, restore," edhwierfan "to retrace one's steps," edgeong "to become young again"). Cf. Old English edwielle "eddy, vortex, whirlpool." The prefix is cognate with Latin et, Old High German et-, Gothic iþ "and, but, however." Related: Eddies.

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v.

1810, from eddy (n.). Related: Eddied; eddying.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
eddy in Science

eddy

[ĕd′ē]
  1. A current, as of water or air, moving in a direction that is different from that of the main current. Eddies generally involve circular motion; unstable patterns of eddies are often called turbulence. See also vortex.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.