English
whirlpool
Whirlpool may come from Middle English *whirlpole.
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500*whirlpoleuncertain
- Englishearliest quotation 1995whirlpool
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500*whirlpoleuncertain
- Englishearliest quotation 1995whirlpool
Earliest quotation: 1995, Orange Coast Magazine: “The meatloaf has been cooking in the oven for…”
The story
Eclipsed non-native Middle English gurges (‘whirlpool’), borrowed from Latin gurges (‘whirlpool’).
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *kʷerp-
through Proto-Germanic *hwerbaną ‘to turn’
Today it means
noun A swirling body of water.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Middle English *whirlpole / whirlpool