needle (nedl)

[Also dial., by transposition, neeld; = D. naald = MLG. natele, LG. natel = OHG. nadela, nadla, MHG. nādel, G. nadel, dial. nal, nole, nolde = Icel. nāl = Sw. nål = Dan. naal = Goth. nēthla, a needle; with a formative -dì ( -thlo- ), from a verb found only in D. naaijen = OHG. nājan, MHG. næjen, G. nähen, sew (whence also D. naad = OHG. MHG. nāt, G. naht, a seam, OHG. natare, natere, MHG. nā tære, a seamer, tailor, fem. MHG. nātærin, G. needle nähterin, a seamstre ); prob. orig. with initial s, and thus related to Ir. snāthad, a needle, snādhe, a thread, and AS. snear, string, snare (see snare), and ult. connected with L. nere = Gr. νέειν, νεῖν, spin (the Gr. deriv. νήτρου, α spindle, IMG:content-1270.png:[blocks in formation] Upholsterers' and Sailmakers' Needles. 1,3%-inch sail; 2, 2%-inch spear-point carpet; 3, 17%-inch carpet; 4. 24-inch carpet: 5, 24-inch speying; 6, upholsterers' skewer; 7. 5-inch packing; 8, 6-inch regulator; 9, 6-inch No. 14 gage, light spear double point; to, 6-inch No. 13 gage, heavy round single point; 11, 6-inch No. 14 gage, light round double point; 12, 2-inch fine round tufting; 13, 22-inch fine round tufting; 14, 3-inch fil at single round curved; 15, 4-inch round single point curved; 16, 5-inch round single point curved. form is that of the common sewing-needle; the second, which is practically an awl with an eye at the point, is that of the sewing-machine needle, and the third form, which is made with a point at each end, is employed in some embroidery-machines. Sewing-needles are commonly made of steel; they range in size from coarse darning-needles to fine cambric-needles, and besides the distinctions of purpose and size are cla ified, according to the shape and character of the eye, the sharpne of the point, and the style of finish, as drill - eyed, golden -eyed, sharps, betweens, blunts, blue - pointed needles, etc. Take two stronge men and in The mese caste hem, And bot he naked as a nedle her none sykerer than other. Piers Plowman (B), xii. 162. Their thimbles into armed gauntlets change, Their needles to lances. Shak ., K. John, v. 2. 157. Sharp as a needle ; ble you, Yankees always are. W. M. Baker , New Timothy, p. 274. 2. In a wider sense, any slender pointed instrument shaped like a needle or used in a similar way: as, a knitting-, crochet-, or engraving needle; a surgeons' needle.-3. Anything resembling a needle in shape. The turning of iron touched with the loadstone towards the north was found out in needles of iron, not in bars of Bacon , Advancement of Learning, ii. iron. indications. See compa , magnet, dipping - needle, galva no meter, and needle- telegraph. Castez coursez be crafte, whene the clowde rysez, With the nedylle and the stone one the nyghte tydez. 3956 Indeede she had hit the needle in that devise. Sir P. Sidney, Arcadia, p. 305. ( Nares .) To look for a needle in a bottle of hay or in a haystack. See bottles and haystack. needle (ne'dl), v.; pret. and pp. needled , ppr. needling. [ Scorn'd each important toil of female hearts, The trickling ornament and needled arts. IMG:content-1271.png:[blocks in formation]