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

---

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

See Examples For:

heddle

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 ● Sep. 15, 2022

James and Patrick Clark, in desperation, attempted to substitute cotton for silk in their manufacture of these heddle strings.

From The Invention of the Sewing Machine by Grace Rogers Cooper

Mr. Davies’ drawing as well as those of Cailliaud and Rosellini show that D1 is a heddle while D2 is shown to be a laze rod.

From Ancient Egyptian and Greek Looms by H. Ling (Henry Ling) Roth

One form of the heddle was simply a straight stick having loops of cord or sinew through which certain of the warp threads were run.

From Textiles and Clothing by Kate Heintz Watson

By raising or lowering the heddle frame, an opening was formed through which the filling thread, wound on a rude shuttle, was thrown.

From Textiles and Clothing by Kate Heintz Watson