5. whirligig a toy for whirling or spinning, as a top.
Etymology: (1400–50; late ME whirlegigge. See whirl , gig1)
Definition of 'whirligig'
Princeton's WordNet
1. (noun)top, whirligig, teetotum, spinning top a conical child's plaything tapering to a steelpoint on which it can be made to spin "he got a bright red top and string for his birthday"
2. (verb)carousel, carrousel, merry-go-round, roundabout, whirligig a large, rotating machine with seats for children to ride or amusement
1. (noun)whirligig a child's toy, spun or whirled around like a wheel upon an axis, or like a top
2. (noun)whirligig anything which whirls around, or in which persons or things are whirled about, as a frame with seats or wooden horses
3. (noun)whirligig a mediaeval instrument for punishing petty offenders, being a kind of wooden cage turning on a pivot, in which the offender was whirled round with greatvelocity
4. (noun)whirligig any one of numerous species of beetles belonging to Gyrinus and allied genera. The body is firm, oval or boatlike in form, and usually darkcolored with a bronzelike luster. These beetles live mostly on the surface of water, and move about with greatcelerity in a gyrating, or circular, manner, but they are also able to dive and swim rapidly. The larva is aquatic. Called also weaver, whirlwig, and whirlwig beetle
Definitions of whirligig 
