whorl

• POS: Noun

CIDE DICTIONARY

whorl, n. [OE. whorvil the whirl of a spindle; akin to AS. hweorfa the whirl of a spindle, hweorfan to turn; cf. OD. worvel the whirl of a spindle. See Whirl, n. & v.].

•  A circle of two or more leaves, flowers, or other organs, about the same part or joint of a stem.  [1913 Webster]
•  A volution, or turn, of the spire of a univalve shell.  [1913 Webster]
•  The fly of a spindle.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

whorl, n.
1 a ring of leaves or other organs round a stem of a plant.
2 one turn of a spiral, esp. on a shell.
3 a complete circle in a fingerprint.
4 archaic a small wheel on a spindle steadying its motion.

Derivative

whorled adj.

Etymology

ME wharwyl, whorwil, app. var. of WHIRL: infl. by wharve (n.) = whorl of a spindle

THESAURUS

whorl

cirrus, coil, contort, corkscrew, crinkle, curl, curlicue, eddy, evolute, gurge, gyre, helix, intort, involute, kink, meander, purl, ringlet, roll, scallop, screw, scroll, serpentine, slink, snake, spiral, swirl, tendril, turn, twine, twirl, twist, twist and turn, volute, volution, vortex, whirl, whirlpool, wind, worm, wring