spindle
spin·dle/ˈspɪndəl/noun, verb
spindle is spelled S-P-I-N-D-L-E: 7 letters and 2 syllables (spin·dle). It appears 1.3 times per million words in written English, the 25,367th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, spindle means “A rod used for spinning and then winding fibres (especially wool), usually consisting of a shaft and a circular whorl positioned at either the upper…” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of spindle is spindles.
How many letters and syllables are in spindle?
| Letters | 7: S-P-I-N-D-L-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: spin·dle |
| In writing | 1.3 times per million words; the 25,367th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is spindle?
Spindle appears 1.3 times per million words in written English, the 25,367th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce spindle?
- /ˈspɪndəl/
Spindle has 2 syllables, split spin·dle in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-spindle.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of spindle
- spindles plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- spindling participle, present
- spindled participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does spindle mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A rod used for spinning and then winding fibres (especially wool), usually consisting of a shaft and a circular whorl positioned at either the upper or lower end of the shaft when suspended vertically from the forming thread.
- 2
A rod which turns, or on which something turns.
the spindle of a vane
- 3
A rotary axis of a machine tool or power tool.
- 4
The axle of a bottom bracket.
- 5
Certain species within the genus Euonymus, historically used to manufacture spindles for wool spinning.
- 6
An upright spike for holding paper documents by skewering.
check spindle
- 7
The fusee of a watch.
- 8
Any long and slender stalk resembling a spindle from Euonymus.
verb
- 1
To make into a long tapered shape.
- 2
To take on a long tapered shape.
- 3
To impale on a device for holding paper documents.
Do not fold, spindle or mutilate this document.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
How do you abbreviate spindle?
Wiktionary records one abbreviation of spindle: spdl..
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Spindle in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | fuseau , essieu |
| German | Spindel , Spindelstrauch |
| Portuguese | fuso |
| Spanish | huso, fuso (disused) , palier, semieje , tarrina |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does spindle come from?
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.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).