Where does “whirly” come from?

whirly (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.

whirly (English): Visually suggestive of a swirl, whorl, or vortex;...

Definitions

  1. Visually suggestive of a swirl, whorl, or vortex;...

Ancestry of “whirly”, step by step

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

Words derived from “whirly

Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷerp-Every word from Proto-Germanic hwerbanąEvery word from Old English hweorfan