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An atom supposed to be formed by the rotational or vortex motion of a portion of an incompressible fluid free from viscosity. A vortex-atom may be regarded as a vortex-ring in the ether, a body which, as was shown by Helmholtz and by Kelvin, possesses many of the properties which it is necessary to assign to an atom. See vortex.
(noun)
The Century Dictionary (Public Domain)