spindle

Everyday

1. A thin, pointed stick used in hand spinning to twist wool or other fibres into thread. tree →
2. A rod or pin in a machine that turns round, or around which something turns. tree →
3. (adjective form spindly) Long and thin, like spindly legs. tree →

In the lessons

In history, people spun yarn with a spindle before spinning wheels and mills. In the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty, the princess pricks her finger on a spindle and falls asleep for a hundred years. In science and DT, a spindle is a turning part of a machine. A «spindle tree» is a hedgerow tree whose wood was used for spindles.

Examples

• The princess pricked her finger on the spindle. tree →
• The woman twisted the wool onto her spindle. tree →
• The spinning wheel has a spindle that turns very fast. tree →
• Spiders have long, spindly legs. tree →
• The door handle fell off its spindle. tree →
• Before mills, all thread was made with a spindle. tree →
• This good woman had never heard of the King's proclamation against spindles. tree →

Note

Countable. Adjective spindly (long and thin, weak-looking).

In Jewish tradition

In history, people spun yarn with a spindle before spinning wheels and mills. In the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty, the princess pricks her finger on a spindle and falls asleep for a hundred years. In science and DT, a spindle is a turning part of a machine. A «spindle tree» is a hedgerow tree whose wood was used for spindles.

Examples

• She layeth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. (Writings PRO.31.19, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable. Adjective spindly (long and thin, weak-looking).