† 1. A name for some kind of whale: cf. whirl-whale (WHIRL- in Comb.), WHIRLPOOL1. rare–1.
1591. Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. v. 98. The monstrous Whirl-about [F. l’énorme Senedete], Which in the Sea another Sea doth spout.
2. The action of whirling about; something that whirls about, or is in a whirl; attrib. or adj. characterized by whirling about.
1786. C. Morris, Songs (1788), 8. While thro’ this whirl-about journey [sc. life] we reel.
1857. Sir F. Palgrave, Norm. & Eng., II. 30. There is such a whirlabout amongst the parties in these transactions, always changing sides.
1863. Kingsley, Water-Bab., vii. His little whirl-about of a head.
