Catherine wheel
noun
a firework that revolves on a pin, making a wheel of fire or sparks; pinwheel.
Also
catharine wheel.
Origin of Catherine wheel
1175–1225; Middle English; named after St.
Catherine of Alexandria, from wheel used to torture her
British Dictionary definitions for catherine wheel
Catherine wheel
noun
Also called: pinwheel
a type of firework consisting of a powder-filled spiral tube, mounted with a pin through its centre. When lit it rotates quickly, producing a display of sparks and coloured flame
a circular window having ribs radiating from the centre
Word Origin for Catherine wheel
C16: named after St
Catherine of Alexandria