Middle English Dictionary Entry
whirl n.
Entry Info
| Forms | whirl n. Also wherl(e, wharle, wharwil, whoril, whorul, whor(l)wil, wirle, werl(e, werille, (N) qwherel, qworle & (in names) whiruel-, wherfel-, wherfle(s)-, wherwel-, whereweles-, whuruel-, whiuel-, whevel-, wiruel-, wer(h)el-, weruel(es)-, werveles-, wervedes-, wervolles-, werfles-, warl(e)-, qwerl-, querl-, quarl-, hwerueles-, huruel-, thwrelle- & (errors) quargel, quartel, aworowylle; pl. wherwilles. |
| Etymology | Prob. from ON: cp. OI hvirfill, Dan. hvirvel; but also cp. OE (in charters and place names) hwirfel, hwyrfel, hwerfel, wirfel, worful & MDu. wervel, wirvel, warvel, worvel, MLG wervel. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. wherve n.
1.
(a) A small circular weight placed on a spindle to serve as a flywheel, a pulley used in the operation of a spinning wheel, a spindle whorl; ?also, a small circular object serving to attach or hold movable parts of a complex device [quot. ?a1479];
(b) child ~, a toy in the form of a wheel or sphere, a whirligig or top;
(c) ?a bread or pastry in the form of a ring or twist;
(d) in phrase: currus et ~, a light carriage or cart designed to carry persons, a whirlicote;
(e) in surname [quot. 1327] and place names [see Smith PNElem.1.272].
Associated quotations
a
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Arun 220)p.157 : Le fusil ou le verdoyl [glossed:] quartel [Arun:Koch: quargel] ne lessez.
- a1425 Gloss.Bibbesw.(AS 182)431 : Le fusil ia ne ubliez, et le virel [glossed:] whorill [vr. whorul] ki a ceo suffit.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)526 : Whorlwyl, of a spyndyl [KC: whorwhil; Win: Wharwyl]: Vertebrum.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)101b : A Qworle of a roke [Monson: Qwherel of A spyndylle]: vertibrum, giraculum, neopellum.
- (?a1479) Paston ()2.601 : vj soketes, with branches to remeve; iij wherwilles to the same.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)417 : Wharle: giraculum, neopellum, vertibulum.
- ?a1500 Lndsb.Nominale (Lndsb)794/18 : Vertebrum: a aworowylle.
b
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)30b/b : Girasculum: a chylde werle [Cnt: a childe wyrle on a staff].
c
- a1425 Roy.17.C.17 Nominale (Roy 17.C.17)663/40 : Sperula: werylle.
d
- (1406) Wardrobe Acc.Philippa in Archaeol.67181 : Ad cooperiendum j currum et wherl garnizandum in diversis partibus tam infra quam extra per baill…et dictus currus et wherle garnitus infra cum panno adaureo.
- (1406) Wardrobe Acc.Philippa in Archaeol.67182 : Eidem ad cooperiendos vj quissin de coreo…factos pro curru et wherle domine Regine.
e
- (1189-99) EPNSoc.5 (North Riding Yks.) ()177 : Weruelthun.
- (1198) EPNSoc.5 (North Riding Yks.) ()177 : Qwerlton.
- (1202) EPNSoc.5 (North Riding Yks.)177 : Wheruelton.
- (1234) EPNSoc.16 (Wil.) ()135 : Hweruelesdena.
- (1249) EPNSoc.8 (Dev.)304 : Whiueldon.
- (1249) in Ekwall PNLan.152 : Quarlous.
- (1255) EPNSoc.16 (Wil.)135 : Wervelesdon.
- (1259) EPNSoc.5 (North Riding Yks.) ()177 : Wherfletun; Wherfelton.
- (1274) EPNSoc.16 (Wil.)135 : Wervedeston.
- (1275) EPNSoc.16 (Wil.)135 : Wervollesdone.
- (1279) EPNSoc.16 (Wil.)135 : Wherewelesdone; Wherflesdone.
- (1279-81) EPNSoc.5 (North Riding Yks.)177 : Werleton.
- (1281) EPNSoc.16 (Wil.)135 : Werflesdon.
- (1285) EPNSoc.5 (North Riding Yks.)177 : Warleton.
- (1286) in Ekwall PNLan.()152 : Werlows; Warlawes.
- (1289) EPNSoc.16 (Wil.)135 : Wheruelesdon.
- (1299) EPNSoc.5 (North Riding Yks.) ()177 : Wherleton.
- (1301) EPNSoc.5 (North Riding Yks.)177 : Werelton.
- (1322) EPNSoc.8 (Dev.) ()304 : Werheldon.
- (1324) in Mawer PNNhb.& Dur.215 : Wherlton; Wherwelton.
- (1327) Name in LuSE 35133 : De Querlowes.
- (1332) Name in LuSE 35133 : Thwrelleton.
- (1351) EPNSoc.8 (Dev.) ()185 : Whurueldych.
- (1365) EPNSoc.8 (Dev.) ()185 : Wyrueldyche.
- (1413) EPNSoc.8 (Dev.) ()185 : Whyrueldyche.
- (1428) in Ekwall PNLan.()152 : Quarles.
- (1437) EPNSoc.8 (Dev.) ()304 : Wheveldon.
- (1475-85) EPNSoc.8 (Dev.) ()185 : Hurueldych.