Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Turmoil \Tur"moil\, n. [Of uncertain origin; perhaps fr. OF.
   tremouille the hopper of a mill, trembler to tremble (cf. E.
   tremble); influenced by E. turn and moil.]
   Harassing labor; trouble; molestation by tumult; disturbance;
   worrying confusion.

         And there I'll rest, as after much turmoil, A blessed
         soul doth in Elysium.                    --Shak.

Turmoil \Tur*moil"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Turmoiled}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Turmoiling}.]
   To harass with commotion; to disquiet; to worry. [Obs.]

         It is her fatal misfortune . . . to be miserably tossed
         and turmoiled with these storms of affliction.
                                                  --Spenser.

Turmoil \Tur*moil"\, v. i.
   To be disquieted or confused; to be in commotion. [Obs.]
   --Milton.

Source : WordNet®

turmoil
     n 1: a violent disturbance; "the convulsions of the stock market"
          [syn: {convulsion}, {upheaval}]
     2: violent agitation [syn: {tumult}]
     3: disturbance usually in protest [syn: {agitation}, {excitement},
         {upheaval}, {hullabaloo}]