[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

spindle \spin"dle\, n. as. spinal, fr. spinnan to spin; akin to
   d. spil, g. spille, spindel, ohg. spinnala. root170. 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: 
      1913 webster
      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.
          1913 webster
      b mach. the vertical rod on which the runner of a
          grinding mill turns.
          1913 webster
      c founding a shaft or pipe on which a core of sand is
          formed.
          1913 webster

   3. the fusee of a watch.
      1913 webster

   4. a long and slender stalk resembling a spindle.
      1913 webster

   5. a yarn measure containing, in cotton yarn, 15,120 yards;
      in linen yarn, 14,400 yards.
      1913 webster

   6. geom. a solid generated by the revolution of a curved
      line about its base or double ordinate or chord.
      1913 webster

   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
see also:
spin rostellaria spindle stromb fusus dead spindle live spindle 
spindle shell spindle spindle side spear side spindle tree 
eunymus eunymus europaeus prickwood 

Spindle >> S Words
Spindle, definition of term: Spindle
spindle_pag1.html