5. A yarn measure containing, in cotton yarn, 15,120 yards; in linen
yarn, 14,400 yards.
6. (Geom.) A solid generated by the revolution of a curved line about
its base or double ordinate or chord.
7. (Zoöl.) (a) Any marine univalve shell of the genus Rostellaria; --
called also spindle stromb. (b) Any marine gastropod of the genus
Fusus.
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. (Zoöl.) 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 E. Europæus was used for
spindles and skewers. See Prickwood.
Spin"dle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Spindled(?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spindling
(?).] To shoot or grow into a long, slender stalk or body; to become
disproportionately tall and slender.
It has begun to spindle into overintellectuality.
Lowell.
Spin"dle-legged` (?), a. Having long, slender legs.
Spin"dle*legs` (?), n. A spindleshanks.
Spin"dle-shanked` (?), a. Having long, slender legs. Addison.
Spin"dle*shanks` (?), n. A person with slender shanks, or legs; -- used
humorously or in contempt.
Spin"dle-shaped` (?), a. 1. Having the shape of a spindle.
2. (Bot.) Thickest in the middle, and tapering to both ends; fusiform;
-- applied chiefly to roots.