Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “whorl” come from?

Whorl comes 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-.

whorl (English): A pattern of concentric circles; A circle of...

Definitions

  1. A pattern of concentric circles; A circle of...

Ancestry of “whorl”, 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 “whorl”

  • whorled
  • whorly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷerp- →