Whirling vs. Dervish — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Whirling and Dervish
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Whirling
Characterized by rapid movement round and round
Whirling propellers
A vigorous whirling jig
Dervish
Dervish or Darvesh or Darwīsh (from Persian: درویش, Darvīsh) in Islam can refer broadly to members of a Sufi fraternity (tariqah), or more narrowly to a religious mendicant, who chose or accepted material poverty. The latter usage is found particularly in Persian and Turkish (Derviş), corresponding to the Arabic term faqir.
Whirling
To rotate rapidly about a center or an axis; spin.
Dervish
A member of a Muslim (specifically Sufi) religious order who has taken vows of poverty and austerity. Dervishes first appeared in the 12th century; they were noted for their wild or ecstatic rituals and were known as dancing, whirling, or howling dervishes according to the practice of their order.
Whirling
To move while rotating or turning about
The dancer whirled across the stage.
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Dervish
A member of any of various Muslim ascetic orders, some of which perform whirling dances and vigorous chanting as acts of ecstatic devotion.
Whirling
To turn rapidly, changing direction; wheel
She whirled around to face him.
Dervish
One that possesses abundant, often frenzied energy
"[She] is a dervish of unfocused energy, an accident about to happen" (Jane Gross).
Whirling
To have the sensation of spinning; reel
My head is whirling with data.
Dervish
(Islam) An itinerant Sufi mystic practicing voluntary poverty in devotion to God, and often engaging in ecstatic rituals.
Whirling
To cause to rotate or turn rapidly
Whirl a baton.
Dervish
(historical) A citizen or inhabitant of Darawiish (circa 1895–1920 {{C.E.}}), an anti-colonial polity in modern Somalia headed by Sufis.
Whirling
To cause to move with a spinning motion
Whirled the ball up into the air.
Dervish
(historical) One of the followers of Muhammad Ahmad, the Mahdi of the Sudan, in the 1880s.
Whirling
To drive at high speed
Whirled the motorcycle around the corner.
Dervish
(by extension) Any irregular guerrilla fighter resembling the Sudanese Mahdi in equipment, uniform, tactics, etc.
Whirling
(Obsolete) To hurl.
Dervish
A Turkish or Persian monk, especially one who professes extreme poverty and leads an austere life.
Whirling
The act of rotating or revolving rapidly.
Dervish
One of the fanatical followers of the Mahdi, in the Sudan, in the 1880's.
Whirling
Something, such as a cloud of dust, that whirls or is whirled.
Dervish
In modern times, a member of an ascetic Mohammedan sect notable for its devotional exercises, which include energetic chanting or shouting and rhythmic bodily movement, such as whirling, leading to a trance-like state or ecstasy. From these exercises the phrase whirling dervish is derived.
Whirling
A state of confusion; a tumult
The press room was in a whirl.
Dervish
Figuratively, a person who whirls or engages in frenzied activity reminiscent of the dervish{3} dancing.
Whirling
A swift succession or round of events
The social whirl.
Dervish
An ascetic Muslim monk; a member of an order noted for devotional exercises involving bodily movements
Whirling
A state of mental confusion or giddiness; dizziness
My head is in a whirl.
Whirling
(Informal) A short trip or ride.
Whirling
(Informal) A brief or experimental try
Let's give the plan a whirl.
Whirling
Present participle of whirl
Whirling
The action of the verb to whirl.
Whirling
That whirls or whirl.
A whirling carousel;
Whirling dancers
Whirling
The act of rotating in a circle or spiral
Whirling
Moving or driven rapidly in a rotary or twisting motion;
A tornado's whirling winds
Swirling currents
Whirling
Rotating rapidly about an axis;
A spinning top
The whirling dance of the Dervish
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