Added 9 October 2026
spindle
/ˈspɪndəl/ noun
In Latin: fūsus Wiktionary
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about spindle at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
(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
- A piece of wood that has been turned on a lathe; used as a baluster, chair leg, etc.
- Any of various rotating shafts that serve as axes for larger rotating parts.
Origin
From Middle English spyndel, spindle, spyndylle, from Old English spindle, spindel, alteration of earlier spinel, spinil, spinl (“spindle”), from Proto-West Germanic *spinnilu (“spindle”), equivalent to spin + -le. Cognate with Scots spindil, spinnell (“spindle”), Dutch spindel ("spindle"; < Middle Dutch spille, spinle), German Spindel (“spindle”), Danish spindel (“spindle”), Swedish spindel (“spindle”). The dragonfly sense (noun sense 14) is a calque of Swedish slända (dragonfly/spindle); this word was introduced by New Sweden settlers.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)