/mayl"streuhm/ , n.
1. a large, powerful, or violent whirlpool.
2. a restless, disordered, or tumultuous state of affairs: the maelstrom of early morning traffic.
3. ( cap. ) a famous hazardous whirlpool off the NW coast of Norway.
[ 1550-60 for def. 3; maelstroom, now sp. maalstroom, repr. mal ( en ) to grind + stroom stream. See MEAL 2 , STREAM ]
Syn. 2. tumult, pandemonium, bedlam.