a. [f. L. vortīgin-, vortīgo, var. of vertīgo: see VERTIGINOUS a.]
1. Of motion: Vortical, vorticular.
1671. R. Bohun, Wind, 230. The spirit or Wind whirls about in a Circle: for the density and resistence of the Cloud, gives it an oblique or Vortiginous Motion.
1774. Pennant, Tour Scot. in 1772, 75. Great circular hollows, the work of the Vortiginous Motion of the Water.
1784. Cowper, Task, II. 102. The fixt and rooted earth with vortiginous and hideous whirl Sucks down its prey insatiable.
2. Moving in a vortex or vortices; rushing in whirls or eddies.
1791. Cowper, Iliad, XXI. 2. Where Xanthus winds His stream vortiginous.
1804. C. B. Brown trans. Volneys View Soil U.S., 145. Acquires a vortiginous direction around a horizontal axis. Ibid., 168. In the same manner may water-spouts be explained, which are vortigenous [sic] masses of air and water, seen only in cloudy weather.
1813. Edin. Rev., XXI. 137. The great, deep, and vortiginous Scamander had dwindled into a scanty rivulet.