catharine-wheel

Definitions

noun In architecture, a window, or compartment of a window, of a circular form, with radiating divisions or spokes. See rose-window.
noun In heraldry, a wheel with sharp hooks projecting from the tire, supposed to represent the wheel upon which St. Catharine suffered martyrdom.
noun A kind of firework having a spiral tube which revolves as the fire issues from it; a pin-wheel.
noun In embroidery, a round hole in muslin or other material filled by twisted or braided threads radiating like the spokes of a wheel. Also spelled catherine-wheel.

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word catharine-wheel.

The feat was greeted with applause, and she went on, making turns and twists, flourishing her skirts, kicking higher and higher, and finally, among a volley of shouts, fell on her hands and turned head over heels in a magnificent catharine-wheel; then scrambling to her feet again, she tumbled into the arms of a young man standing in the front of the ring.

Liza of Lambeth 1919