whorl

whorl

noun
\ˈhwȯr(-ə)l, ˈwȯr(-ə)l, ˈ(h)wər(-ə)l\

Definition of WHORL

1

: a drum-shaped section on the lower part of a spindle in spinning or weaving machinery serving as a pulley for the tape drive that rotates the spindle

2

: an arrangement of similar anatomical parts (as leaves) in a circle around a point on an axis

3

: something that whirls, coils, or spirals or whose form suggests such movement : swirl <whorls of snow>

4

: one of the turns of a univalve shell

5

: a fingerprint in which the central papillary ridges turn through at least one complete circle

Examples of WHORL

1. the whorls and eddies of the river
2. the whorl of a fingerprint

Origin of WHORL

Middle English wharle, whorle, probably alteration of whirle, from whirlen to whirl

First Known Use: 15th century

Rhymes with WHORL

birl, curl, dirl, furl, hurl, merle, pearl, purl, skirl, squirrel, swirl, thirl, tirl, twirl, whirl