spindledadj.
1.
a. Of corn: Shot up into the slender pointed stalks which afterwards bear the ear.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > cereal, corn, or grain > [adjective] > of cereal plants > grown
spindled1604
grown1699
1604 E. Grimeston tr. J. de Acosta Nat. & Morall Hist. Indies iv. xvii. 258 Of the seede sowen, at one instant, some is spindled, some is in the eare, and some doth but bud.
1608 A. Willet Hexapla in Exodum 178 Then the corne was spindled and began to be eared.
1764 Museum Rusticum 2 253 He must then..go among the spindled corn.
b. With up: Overgrown in height or length in proportion to strength or stoutness.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > by growth or development > defined by poor growth > [adjective] > spindly or straggling
spindly1655
straggling1674
spindling1750
gangling1818
speary1821
spindled1855
gangly1886
the world > life > the body > bodily height > tallness > [adjective] > and thin
maypolea1635
gangrel1650
gangling1764
tanglec1817
lanky1818
langrel1847
weedy1849
spindled1855
tangly1855
rangy1857
lanikin1862
gangly1871
orming1903
spiderish1935
leptosomic1936
leptosomatic1937
1855 F. Chamier My Trav. I. x. 167 A tall, thin king, spindled up like a weak geranium.
1885 Bazaar, Exchange & Mart 30 Mar. 1255/3 These are fine compact bushy plants and not spindled up rubbish.
2. Attenuated, thin, slender.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > condition of being long in relation to breadth > slenderness > [adjective]
subtlea1382
subtilea1393
subtilec1392
smiltc1400
fine?a1425
thina1425
exile?1440
slender1444
tenuious1495
jimp?a1513
lenye1513
fine-spuna1555
nice1567
spindled1584
gracile1590
snever1640
tenuous1656
slim1657
gracilious1688
gracilent1727
twittery1819
flitterya1834
attenuate1848
spiry1849
low-profile1906
matchlike1906
slimline1949
1584 B. R. tr. Herodotus Famous Hyst. ii. f. 76 There be two mountaines..arising into sharpe and spindled tops.
1630 J. Taylor Praise Cleane Linnen Ded., in Wks. 165 A good Legge is a great grace if it be discreetly essex'd in the calfe, and not too much spindled in the small.
3.
a. Spindle-shaped; slightly bulging.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > unevenness > projection or prominence > protuberance or rounded projection > [adjective] > slightly
spindled1844
1844 H. Stephens Bk. of Farm II. 460 In the former state, teats are very apt to become corded or spindled.
b. Of a spar or strut for an aeroplane wing: having been recessed and tapered. Also with out.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > air or space travel > a means of conveyance through the air > aeroplane > parts of aircraft > [adjective] > type of spar or strut
oleo1916
spindled1919
1919 S. Camm Aeroplane Constr. iii. 23 This [steel] strut..is superior to the solid spindled strut..which possesses a tendency to buckle laterally.
1928 Technical Rep. Aeronaut. Res. Committee 1926–7 467 The fracture ran through part of the bolt hole and tended to follow a ‘zig-zag’ course on its way into the spindled portion.
1930 Flight 17 Jan. 119/1 The wing is of equally simple construction with two spindled-out spruce spars and light girder ribs.
4. Twisted or wound on the spindle.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > thread or yarn > [adjective] > spun > twisted or wound on spindle or reel
reeled1695
spindled1866
1866 J. B. Rose tr. Ovid Metamorphoses 93 The Minyeides..With rosy fingers twirl the spindled wool.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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adj.1584