SPINDLE • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Spindle

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/spˈɪndəl/ Listen

noun

Spindle n.

1.

The long, round, slender rod or pin in spinning wheels by which the thread is twisted, and on which, when twisted, it is wound; also, the pin on which the bobbin is held in a spinning machine, or in the shuttle of a loom.

2.

A slender rod or pin on which anything turns; an axis; as, the spindle of a vane. Specifically:

(a)

(Mach.) The shaft, mandrel, or arbor, in a machine tool, as a lathe or drilling machine, etc., which causes the work to revolve, or carries a tool or center, etc.

(b)

(Mach.) The vertical rod on which the runner of a grinding mill turns.

(c)

(Founding) A shaft or pipe on which a core of sand is formed.

3.

The fusee of a watch.

4.

A long and slender stalk resembling a spindle.

5.

A yarn measure containing, in cotton yarn, 15,120 yards; in linen yarn, 14,400 yards.

6.

(Geom.) A solid generated by the revolution of a curved line about its base or double ordinate or chord.

7.

(Zool.)

(a)

Any marine univalve shell of the genus Rostellaria; called also spindle stromb.

(b)

Any marine gastropod of the genus Fusus.

Dead spindle (Mach.), a spindle in a machine tool that does not revolve; the spindle of the tailstock of a lathe.

Live spindle (Mach.), the revolving spindle of a machine tool; the spindle of the headstock of a turning lathe.

Spindle shell. (Zool.) See Spindle, 7. above.

Spindle side, the female side in descent; in the female line; opposed to spear side. (R.) "King Lycaon, grandson, by the spindle side, of Oceanus."

Spindle tree (Bot.), any shrub or tree of the genus Eunymus. The wood of Eunymus Europaeus was used for spindles and skewers. See Prickwood.

verb

Spindle v. i. (past & past part. spindled; pres. part. spindling) To shoot or grow into a long, slender stalk or body; to become disproportionately tall and slender. "It has begun to spindle into overintellectuality."

See images of 'Spindle'

Etymology of 'Spindle'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Spindle" Quotes from Famous Books

... all the village people to see Iya made foolish with anger. "Such spindle legs cannot stand to fight by daylight!" shouted the brave ones who were terror-struck the night before ...

— Old Indian Legends • Zitkala-Sa

... her miniature abode whenever an opportunity for so doing occurred. The care of this cottage occupied all her days, and formed the delight and glory of her life. It was a little larger than a good-sized doll's house, and furnished with spindle-legged chairs and tables that had been polished to the ...

— Fenton's Quest • M. E. Braddon

... him owre his trash, As feckless as a wither'd rash, [feeble, rush] His spindle shank a guid whip-lash, His nieve a nit: [fist, nut] Thro' bloody flood or field to dash, O ...

— Robert Burns - How To Know Him • William Allan Neilson

... textbook on the science and art of wood-turning. Contains 25 full-page plates of working drawings covering spindle, face-plate, and chuck turning. It is a clear, practical and suggestive book on wood-turning, and a valuable textbook for students' ...

— Bird Houses Boys Can Build • Albert F. Siepert

... green, soft and velvety, like moss; and the furniture, of a light cream-colored wood, was in dainty shapes, with delicate spindle-legged tables and chairs. The dressing-table was furnished with ivory-backed brushes and mirrors, and there was a charming little work-table with sewing materials ...

— Patty Fairfield • Carolyn Wells

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