Swirl
/swɜːrl/noun
To move in a twisting or spiraling motion, or a twisting motion itself.
Did you know?Swirl is closely tied to old Germanic words for whirling and turning, the same deep family behind several motion words that feel almost spell-like in their sound.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*swer-
“to turn, bend, or twist”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*swirlaną
“to whirl or turn round”
Old English
OE
swirlen
“to whirl, spin, or eddy”
Middle English
ME
swirlen
“to move in a twisting or eddying motion”
Modern English
English
swirl
“to move or cause to move in a twisting or spiraling motion”