flurry

 
Pronunciation: /ˈflʌri/

noun (plural flurries)

  • a small swirling mass of something, especially snow or leaves, moved by sudden gusts of wind: a flurry of snow
  • a sudden short period of activity or excitement: there was a brief flurry of activity in the hall
  • a number of things arriving or happening suddenly and during the same period: a flurry of editorials hostile to the government

verb (flurries, flurrying, flurried)

[no object, with adverbial of direction]
  • (especially of snow or leaves) be moved in small swirling masses by sudden gusts of wind: gusts of snow flurried through the door
  • (of a person) move quickly in a busy or agitated way: the waiter flurried between them

Origin:

late 17th century: from obsolete flurr 'fly up, flutter, whirr' (imitative), probably influenced by hurry