whirly

English

Etymology

From whirl +‎ -y.

Adjective

whirly (comparative whirlier, superlative whirliest)

1. (informal) Visually suggestive of a swirl, whorl, or vortex.

   The whirly pattern on the wallpaper.

2. (informal) That moves in a whirling motion.

   The whirly blades on top of a helicopter.

   • 2013, Alexis Wright, The Swan Book, Constable (2016), page 101:

     He was studying this brolga dance which was being performed with the accompaniment of a whirly haze of dust sprayed from the rusty wrecks of car bodies strewn over the flats behind them.

Derived terms

• whirly tube
• whirly-wind

 

Noun

whirly (plural whirlies)

1. A snowy whirlwind in the Antarctic.