di*ab*o*lo: (dê ab'e lì') n. [c. 1907; prob < Gr. dia- across + bolè, a throw < ballein, to throw, but associated with It. diavolo, a devil] a toy consisting of a wooden spool which is whirled and tossed on a string tied to two sticks held one in each hand.
The diabolo has been around for thousands of years (it was originally invented in China in the 3rd or 4th millennium B.C.E.), but the important thing is the here and now. Since the resurgence in interest in the 1980's, the diabolo has grown to become one of the most popular items within the broad category that is "skill toys". Combining the best elements of juggling with the dynamic skills of the yo-yo, the diabolo has exploded out of Europe to become one of the most popular toys around, and has the fastest growing circle of devotees.