What is "circlings"

Usage examples of "circlings".

The two had learned the leader's lesson of caution well, and ran for a mile, with many haltings and circlings, before they began to feed again.

An instant before, Stubb had swiftly caught two additional turns with it round the loggerhead, whence, by reason of its increased rapid circlings, a hempen blue smoke now jetted up and mingled with the steady fumes from his pipe.

But around its eyes there were circlings of light, blazing red—which gave a momentary impression that it looked upon us through dots of fire.