whirlybird

[hwur-lee-burd, wur-]

noun

Informal.

1. helicopter.

whirlybird

/ ˈwɜːlɪˌbɜːd /

noun

1. an informal word for helicopter

Word History and Origins

Origin of whirlybird¹

First recorded in 1950–55; whirl + -y ¹ + bird

Example Sentences

You could connect the Hero to comic-book capitalists like Batman and Iron Man — and just maybe to the real-life mogul, with a predilection for spaceflight and whirlybird drones, whose company bankrolls this series.

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It took nearly an hour for the high-speed whirlybird to make it to Washington.

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He points it at the whirlybird and clicks.

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The sugary whirlybird also features rotor blades and windows made from white chocolate.

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Some evenings, whirlybirds of unknown origin seem to descend en masse.

Read more on Washington Post

Related Words

• chopper