Middle English Dictionary Entry
whirl-wind n.
Entry Info
| Forms | whirl-wind n. Also whirelewind, whorlewind(e, wirlwind, qwirlewinde, qwirlwind, (N) qwhirlewinde, qworlewinde & (errors) whylwyynd, whyrwynd. |
| Etymology | Prob. from whirl n. or whirlen v. & wind n.; cp. OI hvirfil-vindr & MDu. wervelwint. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A whirlwind, tornado; also, a windstorm, tempest; ?a swirling wind; storm of ~; (b) fig. trouble, affliction; also, an excessive emotion or manifestation.
Associated quotations
a
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)p.184 : Þou forwardest [vr. cursyd] his septres, þe heuedes of his fiȝters, to þe cumand as whirle-wynde [L turbo] to disparplen me.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Job 27.21 : Brennyng wynd shal taken hym & don awei & as a whirlewind shal raueshen hym fro his place.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.25.4 : Þou art maad strengþe to þe pore, strengþe to þe helpeles in his tribulacioun, hope fro þe whirlewind…þe spirit…of stalworþe men as a whirlewind putting doun a wal.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.349 : At Londoun a whirlewynd þrew doun passynge sixe hondred houses.
- c1400 Wycl.CGosp.John (Yk-M 14.D.2:Hudson)75/57 : Þei procuriden hem to be set in þe cop of þe chirche, in whirlewyndis and oþere grete wyndis and tempestis.
- (c1400) Higd.(1) (Hrl 1900)525 : There come a whirle wynde and brake up the dores and the barres and schufte in the body anone to the ynner wal of the chirche.
- (a1402) Trev.DCur.(Hrl 1900)89/21 : Þou schalt but awhile þriste þyne hondes to-gidres forto reste, lest þi nede come to þee as a storme of whirlewynde, & beggery as a man of armes.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.186 : Þe þridde propirte þat falliþ sum tyme in þundir is, as it were, a whirlewynd led aboute among cloudis, and comynge to þe erþe and doinge þere woundris.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.2641 : A whirle-wynd [vrr. whorle wynde, whyrwynd]…Was in old Inglissh callid a rodian That reiseth duste & strauh ful hih alofte.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)437 : Rowdyonys blaste, or qwyrlwynd: Turbo.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)525 : Whyrle wynde [Win: Whylwyynd]: Turbo.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)321/9 : Þe fend flow away in liknes of a whorle-wynd.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)25 : Þe spirit of vertu schal stond aȝen and as a wirlwynd schal diuide hem.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)101b : A Qworle wynde [Monson: Qwhirle wynde]: Turbo.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)276/29 : When Kateryn was sette yn þe wheles…þer come an angyll…and smot al þe wheles into peces [and], as þogh hyd had ben a whyrlwynde, þay rennon ouer þe pepull and slogh…foure þousand of hom.
- a1500 Add.37075 Gloss (Add 37075)7/18a : Turbo: whyrelewynd.
- a1500 Hal.Gloss.(Eg 829)6 : Turbo: the qwyrlewynde.
- a1500 Peterb.Lapid.(Peterb 33)p.77 : Powder of þis stone [coral] ydronke is riȝt good for þe crampe…and Ised sayþ…þat it putteþ away tempest & whirlewyndes.
b
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Hos.8.7 : Thei shuln sowe wynd, and repe whirlwynd.
- c1400 Bk.Mother (Bod 416)178/7 : ‘Þes ben wellis wiþoute watres’ of Holi Writ in here liuinge, ‘cloudes derke’ þorw unkonnynge of Godis hestus, ‘iblowe up wiþ whirlewyndes’ of pride and ueynglorie, þat lasten but a while.