- spiral (adj.)
- 1550s, from Middle French spiral, from Medieval Latin spiralis "winding, coiling" (mid-13c.), from Latin spira "coil," from Greek speira "coil, twist, wreath," from PIE *sper- "to turn, twist." Spiral galaxy first attested 1913.
- spiral (v.)
- 1726 (implied in spiraled), from spiral (n.). Transferred and figurative sense by 1922. Related: Spiraling.
- spiral (n.)
- 1650s, from spiral (adj.). U.S. football sense is from 1896.