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swirl (n.)

early 15c., "whirlpool, eddy," originally Scottish, of uncertain origin, perhaps related to dialectal Norwegian svirla or Dutch zwirrelen "to whirl." The meaning "whirling movement" is from 1818.

swirl (v.)

1510s (transitive), with an isolated instance from 14c.; from swirl (n.). Intransitive sense "form in eddies, whirl in eddies" is from 1755. Related: Swirled; swirling.

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Definitions of swirl from WordNet
1
swirl (v.)
turn in a twisting or spinning motion;
The leaves swirled in the autumn wind
Synonyms: twirl / twiddle / whirl
swirl (v.)
flow in a circular current, of liquids;
Synonyms: eddy / purl / whirlpool / whirl
2
swirl (n.)
the shape of something rotating rapidly;
Synonyms: whirl / vortex / convolution
From wordnet.princeton.edu