Whirlpool
/ˈwɜːlˌpuːl/noun
A swirling body of water moving in a circular current.
Did you know?Whirlpool is a native English compound built from words meaning “to turn” and “pool,” so its power comes straight from plain old Germanic speech, not borrowed magic.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
hweorfol
“something that turns or revolves”
Middle English
ME
whirle-pool
“a pool or current that whirls in a circle”
16th Century
English
whirlepole / whirlpoole
“a swirling mass of water, a vortex”
Modern English
English
whirlpool
“a rotating body of water with a strong circular current”