v. & n.
v. 1 tr. & intr. swing round and round; revolve rapidly. 2 tr. & intr. (foll. by away) convey or go rapidly in a vehicle etc. 3 tr. & intr. send or travel swiftly in an orbit or a curve. 4 intr. a (of the brain, senses, etc.) seem to spin round. b (of thoughts etc.) be confused; follow each other in bewildering succession.
n. 1 a whirling movement (vanished in a whirl of dust). 2 a state of intense activity (the social whirl). 3 a state of confusion (my mind is in a whirl). 4 colloq. an attempt (give it a whirl). whirling dervish see DERVISH. whirler n. whirlingly adv.
[ ME: (v.) f. ON hvirfla: (n.) f. MLG & MDu. wervel spindle & ON hvirfill circle f. Gmc ]