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Catherine wheel
1. The figure of a wheel with spikes projecting from its circumference (in reference to the legend of St. Catherine's martyrdom). esp. in Heraldry.
[a1225Leg. Kath. 1942 Hat ȝarkin fowr hweoles, ant let þurhdriuen þrefter þe spaken ant te felien mid irnene gadien.] 1584R. Scot Discov. Witchcr. xii. xv. 206 Others likewise have (as they brag) a Katharine wheel upon their bodies. 1650B. Discolliminium 17 Though they turn their Rowels into Katherine-wheeles till they have over-taken their Ends. 1703Lond. Gaz. No. 3906/4 The Coat 2 Spread Eagles quarter'd with Catharine Wheels. 1864Boutell Heraldry Hist. & Pop. xxi. (ed. 3) 360 A Catherine wheel or.
attrib.1607Webster Northw. Hoe iii. i, A short Dutch waist, with a round Catherine-Wheel Fardingale.
2. Arch. (Also Catherine-wheel window.) ‘A window or compartment of a window of a circular form with radiating divisions or spokes’ (Gwilt).
1848Rickman Goth. Archit. xxxviii, A circular window filled with fine flowing tracery, of the character often called a ‘Catherine wheel’.
3. A kind of firework which rotates, while burning, in the manner of a wheel. (Also called pin-wheel.)
1760Wilson in Phil. Trans. LI. 906 In the same manner that a Catherine-wheel is made to turn round in a direction contrary to that in which the small rockets affixed to its periphery discharge themselves. 1836E. Howard R. Reefer xvi, A noble Catherine wheel had just begun to fizz. 1836–7Dickens Sk. Boz (1850) 188/2 A noise like the first indication a catherine-wheel gives of..its going off.
4. transf. and fig. (chiefly from 3). Also attrib. to turn Catherine-wheels: to turn lateral summersaults (= cart-wheel n. 3).
1861Times 29 July, The Catherine wheel is busy throwing out sparks and fiery flashes all round the world. 1870Lowell Study Wind. (1886) 79 Catharine-wheel republics, always in revolution while the powder lasts. 1881E. J. Worboise Sissie xxiv, I have seen that boy put down his basket of medicine and turn ‘Catherine wheels’ in the street. 1887Sat. Rev. 16 July 100/1 [Mr. Gale] admits that the ‘Catherine Wheel’ style of bowling has enabled bowlers to acquire a double break. |