tourbillon

American  

[toor-bil-yuhn, toor-bee--yawn] / tʊərˈbɪl yən, tur bi ˈyɔ̃ /

Sometimes tourbillion

noun

1. Horology.  a frame for the escapement of a timepiece, especially a watch, geared to the going train in such a way as to rotate the escapement about once a minute in order to minimize positional error.

2. a firework that rises spirally.

   Between two spectacular pinwheels, they launched a series of silvery tourbillons.

3. whirlwind.

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Etymology

Origin of tourbillon

First recorded in 1470–80; earlier turbilloun, from Middle French to(u)rbillon, from unattested Vulgar Latin turbiliōnem, dissimilated variant of turbiniōnem, accusative of turbiniō “whirlwind”; turbine, -ion

Example Sentences

JAY-Z, the 24-time Grammy winner and longtime watch collector, debuted his $350,000 Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon in August at Fanatics Fest in New York City.

From Salon

It has an inclined tourbillon, a feature aimed at improving accuracy by counteracting gravity, which adds to its rarity in the watch world.

From Salon

That was followed almost immediately by Piaget, in its 150th anniversary year, issuing what it identified as the world’s thinnest tourbillon: the Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon, which at two millimeters all but sucks the third dimension out of the whirring anti-gravitational tourbillon device so loved by elite watchmakers.

From New York Times

But it contained neither the tourbillon cage that surrounds the watch’s oscillating escapement nor the 30 percent additional power required to fuel it.

From New York Times

The two horologists bonded over their shared interest in timepieces made by Breguet, of which Bloomfield owned many important examples, Crisford said, including a pocket watch that housed the world’s first tourbillon — a mechanism that improves timekeeping by suspending componentry in a rotating cage.

From Los Angeles Times