Origin of spindle

before 900; Middle English spindel (noun), Old English spin(e)l; see spin, -le; cognate with German Spindel

regional variation note for spindle

15. See dragonfly.

OTHER WORDS FROM spindle

spin·dle·like, adjective mul·ti·spin·dled, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for spindle

British Dictionary definitions for spindle

spindle
/ (ˈspɪndəl) /

noun

verb

(tr) to form into a spindle or equip with spindles
(intr) rare (of a plant, stem, shoot, etc) to grow rapidly and become elongated and thin

Word Origin for spindle

Old English spinel; related to spinnan to spin, Old Saxon spinnila spindle, Old High German spinnala

Medical definitions for spindle

spindle
[ spĭndl ]

n.

A fusiform structure, usually composed of microtubules.
Mitotic spindle.

Scientific definitions for spindle

spindle
[ spĭndl ]

A network of protein fibers that forms in the cytoplasm of a cell during cell division. The spindle grows forth from the centrosomes and attaches to the chromosomes after the latter have been duplicated, and the nuclear membrane dissolves. Once attached, the spindle fibers contract, pulling the duplicate chromosomes apart to opposite poles of the dividing cell. See more at meiosis mitosis.