Lewis & Short

1. gurges, ĭtis, m. [v. gula; and cf. βάραθρον, vorago], a raging abyss, whirlpool, gulf (syn.: vorago, barathrum).

  1. I. Lit. (class.): non Rheni fossam gurgitibus illis redundantem, Cic. Pis. 33, 81: turbidus hic coeno vastaque voragine gurges Aestuat, Verg. A. 6, 296: multamque trahens sub gurgite arenam Volturnus, Ov. M. 15, 714: alterno procurrens gurgite pontus, Verg. A. 11, 624: per medios gurgites (opp. vada), Liv. 21, 5, 14: deficientibus animis hauriebantur gurgitibus, id. 22, 6, 7: caenosus, the Styx, Juv. 3, 266.
  2. II. Transf.
    1. A. In gen., waters, stream, sea (poet.): fessos jam gurgite Phoebus Ibero Tingat equos, Verg. A. 11, 913: Euboicus, Ov. M. 9, 227: Carpathius, Verg. G. 4, 387: Atlanteus, Stat. Ach. 1, 223: Tusci, id. S. 4, 5, 4: gurgite ab alto, Verg. A. 6, 310; 7, 704: Herculeus, i. e. the Atlantic, beyond Gibraltar, Juv. 14, 280.
    2. B. Of insatiable craving, an abyss; of persons, a spendthrift, prodigal: qui immensa aliqua vorago est, aut gurges vitiorum turpitudinumque omnium, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 9, § 23; cf.: divitias in profundissimum libidinum gurgitem profundere, id. Sest. 43, 93: gurges ac vorago patrimonii, id. ib. 52, 111; cf.: ille gurges atque heluo, natus abdomini suo, id. Pis. 17, 41: Apicius, nepotum omnium altissimus gurges, Plin. 10, 48, 68, § 133.