| 词源 |
spindle n.early 13c., 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. For the -d- also compare windel "wooden reel for winding yarn" (early 14c., perhaps from a derivative of Old Norse vindla "to wind up" or Middle Dutch windelen). Related to Old Saxon spinnila, Old Frisian spindel, Old High German spinnila, German Spindel. As a type of something slender, it is attested from 1570s. 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." updated on January 03, 2023 |