whirligig

Meanings

Plural: whirligigs

Noun

• a conical child's plaything tapering to a steel point on which it can be made to spin
• a large, rotating machine with seats for children to ride or amusement
• Anything that whirls or spins around, such as a toy top or a merry-go-round.
• A device incorporating spinning, wind-driven propellers or pinwheels, used as whimsical outdoor decoration in a garden or on a porch.
• A whirligig beetle.
• A device for punishing prisoners, comprising a wooden cage that rapidly spins around to induce nausea.

Verb

• whirl or spin like a whirligig

Synonyms

carousel, carrousel, merry-go-round, roundabout, spinning top, teetotum, top

Related Words

yo-yo