dervish
noun
der·vish ˈdər-vish 
1
: a member of a Muslim religious order noted for devotional exercises (such as bodily movements leading to a trance)
2
: one that whirls or dances with or as if with the abandonment of a dervish
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Wade played like a dervish in a spectacular opening act. 
Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2022 Notwithstanding a knockout ensemble of dancers, the show needs to be funnier, smoother and to move far more quickly, given that Miranda is a whirling dervish. Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2022 Yannick Ngakoue, the other star the Colts added to the defense this offseason, has been a whirling dervish in practices, putting pressure on the quarterbacks repeatedly with his combination of explosion and relentless pursuit. The Indianapolis Star, 5 Aug. 2022 That episode winds up coming full circle to involve Saul and Caprice in a stunt that will put their competitors (a dervish-dancing man who has sprouted multiple ears; a woman who mutilates herself for the delectation of the elite) to shame. Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 1 June 2022 Hare was a dervish, assisting on four consecutive fast-break baskets at one point and tallying eight points, including her final 3-pointer that boosted the Huskies’ lead to 54-27 heading into the fourth. Matt Le Cren, chicagotribune.com, 5 Jan. 2022 The 19-year-old pop sensation danced around the large stage like a dervish during her seven-song set, accompanied by a band that includes brother Finneas. Steve Bloom, Variety, 25 Sep. 2021 In fact, the whirling dervish out of UCLA looks like an enormous bargain for the Browns in the sixth round. Mary Kay Cabot, cleveland, 21 Sep. 2021 Not far behind is the pulpit dervish Clara Walker, whose exhortative way with a tune doubles as furnace and fan. New York Times, 24 June 2021 See More
Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2022 Notwithstanding a knockout ensemble of dancers, the show needs to be funnier, smoother and to move far more quickly, given that Miranda is a whirling dervish. Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2022 Yannick Ngakoue, the other star the Colts added to the defense this offseason, has been a whirling dervish in practices, putting pressure on the quarterbacks repeatedly with his combination of explosion and relentless pursuit. The Indianapolis Star, 5 Aug. 2022 That episode winds up coming full circle to involve Saul and Caprice in a stunt that will put their competitors (a dervish-dancing man who has sprouted multiple ears; a woman who mutilates herself for the delectation of the elite) to shame. Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 1 June 2022 Hare was a dervish, assisting on four consecutive fast-break baskets at one point and tallying eight points, including her final 3-pointer that boosted the Huskies’ lead to 54-27 heading into the fourth. Matt Le Cren, chicagotribune.com, 5 Jan. 2022 The 19-year-old pop sensation danced around the large stage like a dervish during her seven-song set, accompanied by a band that includes brother Finneas. Steve Bloom, Variety, 25 Sep. 2021 In fact, the whirling dervish out of UCLA looks like an enormous bargain for the Browns in the sixth round. Mary Kay Cabot, cleveland, 21 Sep. 2021 Not far behind is the pulpit dervish Clara Walker, whose exhortative way with a tune doubles as furnace and fan. New York Times, 24 June 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Turkish derviş, literally, beggar, from Persian darvīsh
First Known Use
1585, in the meaning defined at sense 1