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1.
A Turkish or Persian monk, especially one who professes extreme poverty and leads an austere life.
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2.
One of the fanatical followers of the Mahdi, in the Sudan, in the 1880's.
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3.
in modern times, a member of an ascetic Muslim sect notable for its devotional exercises, which include energetic chanting or shouting and rhythmic bodily movement, such as whirling, leading to a trance-like state or ecstasy. From these exercises the phrase whirling dervish is derived.
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4.
figuratively, a person who whirls or engages in frenzied activity reminiscent of the dervish{3} dancing.