spindle (n.)
"small tapering bar hung from the end of the thread as it is drawn from the fiber on the distaff," early 13c., spindel, with unetymological -d-, from Old English spinel "small wooden bar used in hand-spinning," properly "an instrument for spinning," from stem of spinnan (see spin (v.)) + instrumental suffix -el (1) as in handle, treadle, thimble, etc.
It is cognate with Old Saxon spinnila, Old Frisian spindel, Old High German spinnila, German Spindel. The -d- perhaps is by influence of windel "wooden reel for winding yarn" (early 14c., itself perhaps from a derivative of Old Norse vindla "to wind up" or Middle Dutch windelen). But it also might be a euphonic insertion, as in kindred, tender, etc., for which process see D.
Transferred to the pin in spinning-wheels, then late 18c. to machine parts. It is attested from early 14c. as "axle of any revolving tool or instrument." As a quantity or measure of yarn ("amount collected on a spindle"), mid-15c. As a type of something slender, it is attested from 1570s, especially of legs. As with distaff, sometimes formerly used as a metonym for "the female sex," as in Old English spinelhealf "female line of descent," distinguished from sperehealf "male line of descent."
Trends of spindle
updated on November 17, 2023
