Gyroscope vs. Whirligig — What's the Difference?

A gyroscope (from Ancient Greek γῦρος gûros, "circle" and σκοπέω skopéō, "to look") is a device used for measuring or maintaining orientation and angular velocity. It is a spinning wheel or disc in which the axis of rotation (spin axis) is free to assume any orientation by itself.

A whirligig is an object that spins or whirls, or has at least one part that spins or whirls. A whirligig can also be a pinwheel, spinning top, buzzer, comic weather-vane, gee-haw, spinner, whirlygig, whirlijig, whirlyjig, whirlybird, or simply a whirly.

A device consisting of a spinning mass, typically a disk or wheel, usually mounted on a gimbal so that its axis can turn freely in one or more directions and thereby maintain its orientation regardless of any movement of the base.

Any of various spinning toys.

An apparatus composed of a wheel which spins inside of a frame (gimbal) and causes the balancing of the frame in any direction or position. In the form of a gyroscopic stabilizer, used to help keep aircraft and ships steady.

A carousel; a merry-go-round.

A rotating wheel, mounted in a ring or rings, for illustrating the dynamics of rotating bodies, the composition of rotations, etc. It was devised by Professor W. R. Johnson, in 1832, by whom it was called the rotascope.

Something that continuously whirls.

A form of the above apparatus, invented by M. Foucault, mounted so delicately as to render visible the rotation of the earth, through the tendency of the rotating wheel to preserve a constant plane of rotation, independently of the earth's motion.

A whirligig beetle.

Rotating mechanism in the form of a universally mounted spinning wheel that offers resistance to turns in any direction

Anything that whirls or spins around, such as a toy top or a merry-go-round.

A device incorporating spinning, wind-driven propellers or pinwheels, used as whimsical outdoor decoration in a garden or on a porch.

A whirligig beetle.

(historical) A device for punishing prisoners, comprising a wooden cage that rapidly spins around to induce nausea.

A child's toy, spun or whirled around like a wheel upon an axis, or like a top.

Anything which whirls around, or in which persons or things are whirled about, as a frame with seats or wooden horses.

A mediæval instrument for punishing petty offenders, being a kind of wooden cage turning on a pivot, in which the offender was whirled round with great velocity.

Any one of numerous species of beetles belonging to Gyrinus and allied genera. The body is firm, oval or boatlike in form, and usually dark colored with a bronzelike luster. These beetles live mostly on the surface of water, and move about with great celerity 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.

A conical child's plaything tapering to a steel point on which it can be made to spin;

Large mechanical apparatus with seats for children to ride on

Whirl or spin like a whirligig