different between zephyr vs flurry

English

Alternative forms

• zephir
• zefir

Etymology

From Latin zephyrus (“west wind”), from Ancient Greek ??????? (Zéphuros).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /z?f?(?)/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /z?f?/
• Rhymes: -?f?(?)

Noun

zephyr (plural zephyrs)

1. A light wind from the west.

   Synonym: westerly

   • 1671, R. Bohun, A Discourse Concerning the Origine and Properties of Wind, Oxford: Tho. Bowman, pp. 149-150,^[1]

     The Western [winds] have been Counted the mildest, & most Auspicious of all others; and were so highly in favour with the Poets, that they thought them worthy of the Golden Age, and to refresh the Elysian groves. [...] But though the Breathing Zephyrs are so much celebrated in Poems and Romances, and happily were kinder to the delicious countries of Italy, & Greece, yet wee find no lesse malignity in their natures from particular accidents and climats, then what wee have observ’d of other Winds.

2. Any light refreshing wind; a gentle breeze.
3. Anything of fine, soft, or light quality, especially fabric.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

zephyr (third-person singular simple present zephyrs, present participle zephyring, simple past and past participle zephyred)

1. (intransitive, poetic) To blow or move like a zephyr, or light breeze.
   • 1879, Robert Stephen Hawker, “An Inscription for an Aged Oak” in The Poetical Works, London: The Bodley Head, p. 171,^[2]

     There was a time

     When the soft zephyring spring came joyfully,

     Like a young bride, with bloom upon her cheek—

   • 1908, Clarence E. Mulford, The Coming of Hopalong Cassidy, New York: Grosset & Dunlap, Chapter 4, p. 60,^[3]

     There was a sudden scrambling and thumping overhead and hot exclamations zephyred down to them.
2. (transitive, poetic) To blow or blow on gently like a zephyr; to cool or refresh with a gentle breeze.
   • 1849, letter from Leonidas Lent Hamline dated 15 December, 1849, in Walter Clark Palmer, Life and Letters of Leonidas L. Hamline, D.D., New York: Carlton & Porter, 1866, Chapter 15, p. 361,^[4]

     He was a fragrant poison, a zephyred pestilence spread through all the city.

   • 1914, Leonard Lanson Cline, untitled sonnet in Poems, Boston: The Poet Lore Company, p. 76,^[5]

     Ah, but the skies are joyous in the spring,

     From dawn to dusk exuberantly blue;

     White-tufted oftentimes with clouds that do

     But wanton in heaven’s zephyred merrying!

   • 1914, Juliane Paulsen (pseudonym of Juliane Grace Hansen), “Poppy Fantasy” in And Then Came Spring, Boston: The Gorham Press, p. 49,^[6]

     Oh, graciously she led my soul within

     Where ever and forever went a wind

     In zephyred streams of poppies coursing sweet

     About the place, and waves of poppy heat

     About us there.

English

Etymology

Perhaps an American English blend of flutter and hurry. Alternatively, perhaps from an obsolete term flurr (“scatter”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?fl??i/ (accents with the "Foot-strut" split)
• (UK) IPA^(key): /?fl??i/ (accents without the "Foot-strut" split)
• Rhymes: -?ri
• (US) IPA^(key): /?fl??i/ (accents without the "Hurry-furry" merger)
  • Rhymes: -?ri
• (US) IPA^(key): /?fl?.?i/ (accents with the "Hurry-furry" merger)

Noun

flurry (plural flurries)

1. A light, brief snowfall.
2. A sudden and brief blast or gust; a light, temporary breeze.

   a flurry of wind

3. A shower of dust, leaves etc. brought on by a sudden gust of wind.
4. (figuratively) Any sudden activity; a stir.
   • 1998, Gillian Catriona Ramchand, Deconstructing the Lexicon, in Miriam Butt and Wilhelm Geuder, eds. “The Projection of Arguments”

     These [argument structure] modifications are important because they have provoked a flurry of investigation into argument structure operations of merger, demotion etc.

5. A snack consisting of soft ice cream mixed with small pieces of fruit, cookie crumbs, etc.
   • 1988, K. Wayne Wride, Fruit Treats (in Vegetarian Times number 134, October 1988, page 27)

     Does your "Forbidden Foods" list include banana splits, ice cream sundaes, slurpies, popsicles, frozen yogurts, milk shakes, and ice cream flurries? These foods taste great but have a reputation for being bad for your health.

   • 2002, Tampa Bay Magazine (volume 17, number 3, May-June 2002, page 235)

     They will make your tongue smile with their homemade ice cream, which was voted "Best Taste in the USA Today." Enjoy exciting toppings to personalize your treat or a yummy sundae, flurry, smoothie, banana split or shake...

6. The violent spasms of a dying whale.
7. An occurrence of something (countable instances) in large numbers, happening suddenly or in a short period of time.

   Synonyms: volley, barrage

Translations

Verb

flurry (third-person singular simple present flurries, present participle flurrying, simple past and past participle flurried)

1. (transitive) To agitate, bewilder, fluster.
   • 1848, William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair, Chapter 1:

     And so venturing not to say another word, poor Jemima trotted off, exceedingly flurried and nervous.
2. (intransitive) To move or fall in a flurry.

Translations