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heddle

American  
[hed-l] / ˈhɛd l /

noun

  1. one of the sets of vertical cords or wires in a loom, forming the principal part of the harness that guides the warp threads.


heddle British  
/ ˈhɛdəl /

noun

  1. one of a set of frames of vertical wires on a loom, each wire having an eye through which a warp thread can be passed

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of heddle

1505–15; perhaps representing Old English *hefedl, a metathetic variant of hefeld ( Middle English helde, ModE heald ), cognate with Old Saxon hevild; akin to Old Norse hafald

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The fabric is warped with men's intestines and firmly weighted with men's heads; bloodstained spears serve as heddle rods, the shed is ironclad, and pegged with arrows.

From Scientific American

Holding a heddle rod to separate the warp threads, she draws the continuous horizontal weft thread in and out of one or more warp threads.

From Scientific American

Heddle had breast and lymph-node cancer followed by melanoma and brain cancer for six years.

From Seattle Times

Heddle also earned gold in the women’s eight in 1992.

From Seattle Times

Heddle and McBean carried Canada’s flag at the closing ceremony of the 1996 Atlanta Games.

From Seattle Times