Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “swirling” come from?

Swirling comes from Middle English swirlen, of unknown origin and ultimate derivation.

swirling (English): that swirls; A pattern or motion that swirls;...

Definitions

  1. that swirls; A pattern or motion that swirls;...

Ancestry of “swirling”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishswirlTo twist or whirl, as an eddy; To be arranged in...
2Middle Englishswirlento eddy; swirl
3Old Norse*svirla—
4Old Norsesverra—

Words derived from “swirling”

  • swirlingly
Every word from Old Norse sverra →