Where does “whirlpit” come from?

whirlpit (English) comes from English whirl, from Middle English whirlen, from Middle English whervelen, from Old English hweorflian, from Old English hweorfan, from Proto-Germanic hwerbaną, from Proto-Indo-European kʷerp- — to turn; to whirl, to twist.

whirlpit (English): A whirlpool

Definitions

  1. A whirlpool

Ancestry of “whirlpit”, step by step

whirlpit traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via English whirl

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwhirlTo rotate, revolve, spin or turn rapidly; To have...
2Middle Englishwhirlen
3Middle Englishwhervelen
4Old Englishhweorflian
5Old Englishhweorfanto turn, change; to depart, go, proceed; to...
6Proto-Germanichwerbanąto turn; turn around; to move; move about; to...
7Proto-Indo-Europeankʷerp-to turn; to whirl, to twist

via English pit

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpitA hole in the ground; An area at a racetrack used...
2Middle Englishpit
3Old Englishpyttpit; well, pool; grave
4Proto-West Germanicputiwell
5Latinputeuspit, dungeon; well; cistern
6Latin-alnoun-forming suffix

via Middle English whirl-pit

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishwhirl-pit
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷerp-Every word from Proto-Germanic hwerbanąEvery word from Old English hweorfan
whirlpit — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer