spindle

spindle
    n 1: (biology) tiny fibers that are seen in cell division; the
         fibers radiate from two poles and meet at the equator in
         the middle; "chromosomes are distributed by spindles in
         mitosis and meiosis"
    2: a piece of wood that has been turned on a lathe; used as a
       baluster, chair leg, etc.
    3: any of various rotating shafts that serve as axes for larger
       rotating parts [syn: {spindle}, {mandrel}, {mandril},
       {arbor}]
    4: a stick or pin used to twist the yarn in spinning
    5: any holding device consisting of a rigid, sharp-pointed
       object; "the spike pierced the receipts and held them in
       order" [syn: {spike}, {spindle}]
    

Spindle \Spin"dle\, n. [AS. spinal, fr. spinnan to spin; akin to
   D. spil, G. spille, spindel, OHG. spinnala. [root]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.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A slender rod or pin on which anything turns; an axis; as,
      the spindle of a vane. Specifically: 
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      (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.
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      (b) (Mach.) The vertical rod on which the runner of a
          grinding mill turns.
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      (c) (Founding) A shaft or pipe on which a core of sand is
          formed.
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   3. The fusee of a watch.
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   4. A long and slender stalk resembling a spindle.
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   5. A yarn measure containing, in cotton yarn, 15,120 yards;
      in linen yarn, 14,400 yards.
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   6. (Geom.) A solid generated by the revolution of a curved
      line about its base or double ordinate or chord.
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   7. (Zool.)
      (a) Any marine univalve shell of the genus {Rostellaria};
          -- called also {spindle stromb}.
      (b) Any marine gastropod of the genus {Fusus}.
          [1913 Webster]

   {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}.
      [1913 Webster]
    

Spindle \Spin"dle\, v. 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.
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         It has begun to spindle into overintellectuality.
                                                  --Lowell.
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25 Moby Thesaurus words for "spindle":
      arbor, axis, axle, axle bar, axle shaft, axle spindle, axle-tree,
      distaff, fulcrum, gimbal, gudgeon, hinge, hingle, hub, mandrel,
      nave, oarlock, pin, pintle, pivot, pole, radiant, rowlock, swivel,
      trunnion