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whirlabout

American  
[hwurl-uh-bout, wurl-] / ˈʰwɜrl əˌbaʊt, ˈwɜrl- /

noun

  1. a whirling around in a circle.

  2. a whirligig.


adjective

  1. whirling around.

whirlabout British  
/ ˈwɜːləˌbaʊt /

noun

  1. anything that whirls around; whirligig

  2. the act or an instance of whirling around

"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

Etymology

Origin of whirlabout

First recorded in 1585–95; whirl + about

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Liberius—most willingly, Sic agimus—then let us try: Nunc vide, Skip with me, Whirlabout, roundabout, celere.

From Project Gutenberg

And yet the sudden whirlabout to all her thoughts and habits and ways, was very confusing.

From Project Gutenberg

“Don’t look at those whirlabout sails, but come let us go and see the house of Peter the Great, which was the chief object of our visit to this place.”

From Project Gutenberg

Grundy, meanwhile, is in a state of complete whirlabout.

From Project Gutenberg

Liberius—most willingly, Sic agimus—then let us try:        Nunc vide,        Skip with me, Whirlabout, roundabout, celere.

From Project Gutenberg