WHIRLIGIG


Meaning of WHIRLIGIG in English

■ noun

1》 a toy that spins round, e.g. a top or windmill.

2》 another term for roundabout (in sense 2).

3》 a process or activity characterized by constant change or hectic activity: the ~ of time.

4》 (also ~ beetle ) a small black water beetle which typically swims rapidly in circles on the surface. [Family Gyrinidae.]

Origin

ME: from whirl + obs. gig 'toy for whipping'.

Concise Oxford English vocab.      Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка.