Etymograph

English

twirl

Twirl comes from Proto-Germanic *þwirilaz ‘stirring-stick, whisk’, from *þweraną ‘to swirl, turn, stir’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)twérH-e-ti.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*(s)twérH-e-tireconstructed
  2. Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*þweraną‘to swirl, turn, stir’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*þwirilaz‘stirring-stick, whisk’reconstructed
  4. Englishearliest quotation 1753twirl

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*(s)twérH-e-tireconstructed
  2. Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*þweraną‘to swirl, turn, stir’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*þwirilaz‘stirring-stick, whisk’reconstructed
  4. Englishearliest quotation 1753twirl

Earliest quotation: 1753, Robert Dodsley: “See ruddy maids, / Some taught with dexterous hand…”

Every English word from Proto-Indo-European *(s)twérH-e-ti

Today it means

noun A movement where a person spins round elegantly; a pirouette.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *(s)twérH-e-ti / twirl

Shirt and support for this word