tourbillion

plural tourbillions

1. archaicAn ornamental firework that turns round in the air so as to form a scroll of fire.

   This azure Vault has a greater Depth and a vaster Extent , and that ' tis divided into a thousand and a thousand different Tourbillions or Whirlings

   1700, Mrs. Behn (translator), Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle, The Theory Or System of Several New Inhabited Worlds Lately Discover'd

   1 more example

   Clem knew ... the sober, familiar names usually produced the most interesting results. He laid out a certain amount on Roman Candles, Catherine-wheels, and Tourbillions, but for the most part he rightly concentrated on rockets.

   1939, Jan Struther, “Guy Fawkes' Day”, in Mrs. Miniver