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Webster 1913 Edition

Spindle

Spin′dle

,
Noun.
[AS.
spinal
, fr.
spinnan
to spin; akin to D.
spil
, G.
spille
,
spindel
, OHG.
spinnala
. √170. See
Spin
.]
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
.
Ld. Lytton.
[R.]
“King Lycaon, grandson, by the spindle side, of Oceanus.”
Lowell.
–
Spindle tree
(Bot.)
,
any shrub or tree of the genus
Eunymus
. The wood of
Eunymus Europaeus
was used for spindles and skewers. See
Prickwood
.

Spin′dle

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Spindled
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
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.
Lowell.

Webster 1828 Edition

Spindle

SPIN'DLE

,
Adj.
[See Spin.]
1.
The pin used in spinning wheels for twisting the thread, and on which the thread when twisted, is wound.
2.
A slender pointed rod or pin on which any thing turn; as the spindle of a vane.
3.
The fusee of a watch.
4.
A long slender stalk.
5.
The lower end of a capstan, shod with iron; the pivot.

SPIN'DLE

,
Verb.
I.
To shoot or grow in a long slender stalk or body.

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