tourbillion noun. [tʊǝ'bɪljǝn] Also (esp. in sense 3) tourbillon [tʊǝ'bɪlǝn, -'bɪjǝn; turbij (pl. same)]. L15.
[French tourbillon from Old French torbeillon, from Latin turbellae bustle, stir, blended with turbo whirlwind.]
1. A whirlwind, a whirling storm. Now usu. transf. & fig., a vortex, a whirl; an eddy, a whirlpool. L15.

2. A kind of firework which spins as it rises. M18.

3. Watchmaking. A revolving carriage in which the escapement is fitted to counteract position errors. L19.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲