"small, spinning wheel with radial points on a spur," mid-14c., rouel, from Old French roelle, roel (Modern French rouelle), "small wheel" (see roulette).
Entries linking to rowel
roulette n.
"game of chance involving a revolving disk on a table," 1745; earlier "small wheel" (1734), from French roulette "gambling game played with a revolving wheel," an extended sense; "small wheel," from Old French roelete "little wheel" (12c.), formed on model of Late Latin rotella, diminutive of Latin rota "wheel" (see rotary).