tourbillion
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English
[edit]Etymology
[edit]See tourbillon.
Noun
[edit]tourbillion (plural tourbillions)
- (archaic) An ornamental firework that turns round in the air so as to form a scroll of fire.
- 1700, Mrs. Behn (translator), Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle, The Theory Or System of Several New Inhabited Worlds Lately Discover'd:
- This azure Vault has a greater Depth and a vaster Extent , and that ' tis divided into a thousand and a thousand different Tourbillions or Whirlings
- 1939, Jan Struther, “Guy Fawkes' Day”, in Mrs. Miniver:
- Clem knew ... the sober, familiar names usually produced the most interesting results. He laid out a certain amount on Roman Candles, Catherine-wheels, and Tourbillions, but for the most part he rightly concentrated on rockets.
References
[edit]- “tourbillion”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.