An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Wirbel

by Friedrich Kluge

Wirbel, masculine, ‘whirl, vortex, whirlpool, bustle, crown (of the head),’ from Middle High German wirbel, masculine, ‘vortex, crown (of the head), whirl,’ Old High German wirbil, wirfil, masculine, ‘whirlwind’; compare Old Icelandic hvirfell, ‘vortex, English whirl. Derivatives of the Teutonic root hwerb (hwerf), ‘to turn’ (see werben). With regard to Ropfwirbel note the evolution of meaning in Scheitel.