whirligig

Whirligig is a generic term for a device designed to whirl or spin. It is commonly used for a spinning toy such as a top or pinwheel, but can also refer to any wind-driven or mechanical figure that turns around its axis. In craft and folk art, whirligigs are decorative wind-driven sculptures—wooden figures attached to a propeller or rotor that spin when blown by the wind.

Origin and usage: The word whirligig comes from Middle English whirle gig, from whirle “to whirl” and gig meaning a game or toy. The term dates to the 17th century and has been used broadly to describe both small toys and larger mechanical devices.

Historically, whirligigs were widely produced in North America in the 19th century as yard ornaments and folk art. They included stationary or mobile figures such as sailors, animals, and people attached to rotating blades or wheels that turned in the wind. Mass-produced pinwheels and tops are modern descendants of this tradition.

Modern usage: In contemporary contexts, whirligig refers to a toy top, a pinwheel, a wind toy or a kinetic sculpture. It can also describe any device that whirs or spins rapidly, regardless of size. The term appears in literature and culture as a descriptor for spinning motion.