tourbillon

[ toor-bil-yuhn; French toor-bee--yawn ]

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. Compare karrusel.
2. a firework that rises spirally:

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

3. whirlwind ( def ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of tourbillon¹

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

The organisation of the body, the arrangement of its solids and liquids, is adapted to further the tourbillon vital.

From Project Gutenberg

I have known before what it is to be in what our neighbours have called a tourbillon, but never on such a scale as this.

From Project Gutenberg

Father was capital as the French usher Tourbillon; and the whole thing went splendidly.

From Project Gutenberg

Le tourbillon, l'ouragan, tous les diables dechains qui veulent bien emporter votre chteau.

From Project Gutenberg

A new face arose, the pretty Leontine von Morien, the tourbillon of the princely court at Rheinsberg, who pined away in sighs.

From Project Gutenberg