twirl

Meanings

Noun

• A movement where a person spins round elegantly; a pirouette.
• Any rotating movement; a spin.
• A little twist of some substance; a swirl.
• A prison guard.

Verb

• To perform a twirl.
• To rotate rapidly.
• To twist round.
• To pitch.

Origin

• Of Scandinavian origin, akin to Norwegian Nynorsk tvirla, Old High German dweran (German zwirlen, quirlen) and Icelandic þyrill; all from Proto-Germanic *þweraną ("to stir"). Or, an alteration of tirl, with influence from whirl.