whirlybird
|whir/ly/bird|
B2
🇺🇸
/ˈwɜrliˌbɜrd/
🇬🇧
/ˈwɜːliˌbɜːd/
spinning aircraft
Etymology
Etymology Information
'whirlybird' originates from English, combining 'whirl' meaning 'to spin' and 'bird' referring to the flying machine.
Historical Evolution
'whirlybird' was coined in the mid-20th century as a playful term for helicopters, reflecting their spinning rotor blades.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it was a playful term for helicopters, and this meaning has remained consistent.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a colloquial term for a helicopter.
The whirlybird landed smoothly on the helipad.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:42