whirlwind
    n 1: a more or less vertical column of air whirling around
         itself as it moves over the surface of the Earth

Whirlwind \Whirl"wind`\, n. [Cf. Icel. hvirfilvindr, Sw.
   hvirfvelvind, Dan. hvirvelvind, G. wirbelwind. See Whirl,
   and Wind, n.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. A violent windstorm of limited extent, as the tornado,
      characterized by an inward spiral motion of the air with
      an upward current in the center; a vortex of air. It
      usually has a rapid progressive motion.
      [1913 Webster]

            The swift dark whirlwind that uproots the woods.
            And drowns the villages.              --Bryant.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: Some meteorologists apply the word whirlwind to the
         larger rotary storm also, such as cyclones.
         [1913 Webster]

   2. Fig.: A body of objects sweeping violently onward. "The
      whirlwind of hounds and hunters." --Macaulay.
      [1913 Webster]

Whirlwind

    An early computer from the MIT Research Laboratory
   for Electronics.

   Whirlwind used electrostatic memory and ran Laning and
   Zierler (1953); and ALGEBRAIC, COMPREHENSIVE and SUMMER
   SESSION (all 1959).

   [Details, reference?]

   (2002-06-03)