Pilotmike, the topple of a childs spinning top is due to gyroscopic precession, not coriolis. Indeed, the properties of gyro instruments are due to both rigidity and precession, and are not related to Coriolis.
You are right to use the word 'effect' because there is no such thing as coriolis force, it is merely an apparent effect - the path of an object (straight line) relative to a rotating observer. The observer sees the object curving. It is not curving, the observer is! There is no 'Force'.
Coriolis effect can be apparent on any sized rotating system. (Not including the sub-atomic!!).