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

Examples of dervish in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The color red, recurrent in her work, finds its origin here in the often colorful dresses worn by whirling dervishes. —Y-Jean Mun-Delsalle, Forbes, 1 Jan. 2025

Bucky Irving is really something with his whirling dervish moves — not just this Sunday but every week. —Michael Salfino, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024

Just as important, McCaffrey — a practice dervish who takes every rep seriously and whose effect on his teammates is profound in that way — also missed the offseason program. —Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 29 Nov. 2024

There was Luis Diaz, twisting like a dervish, carrying the attack to the Uruguay defense as if his very life depended on it. —Jack Lang, The Athletic, 10 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Turkish derviş, literally, beggar, from Persian darvīsh

First Known Use

circa 1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

dervish

noun

der·​vish ˈdər-vish 

: a member of a Muslim religious group noted for its customs (as bodily movements leading to a trance)