curl vs wigwag

curl

noun
  • A curving piece or lock of hair; a ringlet. 

  • A spin making the trajectory of an object curve. 

  • Movement of a moving rock away from a straight line. 

  • {{ux|en|The curl of the vector field ⃑F(x,y,z) is the vector field operatorname curl,⃑F≡⃑∇⨯⃑F=((∂F_z)/(∂y)-(∂F_y)/(∂z),(∂F_x)/(∂z)-(∂F_z)/(∂x),(∂F_y)/(∂x)-(∂F_x)/(∂y)).}} 

  • The vector operator, denoted rm curl; or ⃑∇⨯⃑(·), that generates this field. 

  • Any exercise performed by bending the arm, wrist, or leg on the exertion against resistance, especially those that train the biceps. 

  • A curved stroke or shape. 

  • Any of various diseases of plants causing the leaves or shoots to curl up; often specifically the potato curl. 

  • A pattern where the receiver appears to be running a fly pattern but after a set number of steps or yards quickly stops and turns around, looking for a pass. 

  • The vector field denoting the rotationality of a given vector field. 

  • The contrasting light and dark figure seen in wood used for stringed instrument making; the flame. 

verb
  • To cause to move in a curve. 

  • To shape (the brim of a hat) into a curve. 

  • To move in curves. 

  • To take part in the sport of curling. 

  • To twist or form (the hair, etc.) into ringlets. 

  • To exercise by bending the arm, wrist, or leg on the exertion against resistance, especially of the biceps. 

  • To make into a curl or spiral. 

  • To assume the shape of a curl or spiral. 

  • To deck with, or as if with, curls; to ornament. 

  • To raise in waves or undulations; to ripple. 

wigwag

noun
  • An instrument that creates a wigwagging motion for polishing. 

  • A device with multiple (often two), alternately flashing lights which is installed at a railway level crossing (or grade crossing), a movable bridge, etc., to warn vehicular traffic to stop. 

  • A grade crossing signal with a swinging motion used to indicate an approaching train. 

  • A device that causes one or more lights to flash in a preset pattern. 

  • A red light near the door of a sound stage that flashes to indicate that cameras are rolling inside the stage and that all people and vehicles outside should remain quiet; a red-eye. 

  • A device used to cause lamps installed on a motor vehicle, especially an emergency vehicle such as an ambulance or police car, to flash as a warning. 

  • Any of a number of mechanical or electrical devices which cause a component to oscillate between two states. 

  • A signal sent by waving a flag to and fro. 

  • A warning device inside the cabin of a truck that causes a mechanical arm to drop into view when the pressure in the airbrake system of the truck becomes too low for the brakes to be reliably deployed. 

verb
  • To send a signal by waving a flag to and fro. 

  • An act of wigwagging. 

  • To oscillate between two states. 

  • To move gently in one direction and then another; to wig or wiggle, to wag or waggle. 

adv
  • With a wigwagging or to-and-fro motion. 

How often have the words curl and wigwag occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )