Where does “whirlybird” come from?
whirlybird (English) comes from English whirly, 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.
whirlybird (English): A helicopter
Definitions
- A helicopter
Ancestry of “whirlybird”, step by step
whirlybird traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English whirly
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | whirly | Visually suggestive of a swirl, whorl, or vortex;... |
| 2 | English | whirl | To rotate, revolve, spin or turn rapidly; To have... |
| 3 | Middle English | whirlen | — |
| 4 | Middle English | whervelen | — |
| 5 | Old English | hweorflian | — |
| 6 | Old English | hweorfan | to turn, change; to depart, go, proceed; to... |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | hwerbaną | to turn; turn around; to move; move about; to... |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | kʷerp- | to turn; to whirl, to twist |