twirl

Of Scandinavian origin, akin to Norwegian tvirla, Old High German dweran[1] (German zwirlen, quirlen) and Icelandic þyrill[2]

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• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈtwɜː(ɹ)l/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(r)l

twirl (plural twirls)

1. A movement where a person spins round elegantly; a pirouette.
2. Any swift, elegant rotating movement.

   The conductor gave his baton a twirl, and the orchestra began to play.

3. A little twist of some substance; a swirl.
   • 1969, The South African Sugar Journal (volume 53, page 51)

     Place the cream in a piping bag with a fairly large star pipe attached, fill each tartlet with a twirl of cream and top with a strawberry.

twirl (third-person singular simple present twirls, present participle twirling, simple past and past participle twirled)

1. (intransitive) To perform a twirl.
2. (transitive) To rotate rapidly.
   • Dodsley

     See ruddy maids, / Some taught with dexterous hand to twirl the wheel.

   • Byron

     No more beneath soft eve's consenting star / Fandango twirls his jocund castanet.