spinning wheel

noun

1. a device formerly used for spinning wool, flax, etc., into yarn or thread, consisting essentially of a single spindle driven by a large wheel operated by hand or foot.

spinning wheel

noun

1. a wheel-like machine for spinning at home, having one hand- or foot-operated spindle

Word History and Origins

Origin of spinning wheel¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425

Example Sentences

Schubert, Dvorak, and Saint-Saens transformed the obstinate repetition of the spinning wheel to melodious patterns.

From Nautilus

In everyday terms, a badly-designed chip means slow loading times and the spinning wheel of death—something no one wants.

From Singularity Hub 

You move the slider a little, then wait for the spinning wheel to disappear, and then you get a preview of your image.

From Popular-Science

But for users of HBO GO Sunday night, it was more like a spinning wheel of death.

From The Daily Beast

Quintana was not at a spinning wheel when it happened, or biting into a poisoned Honeycrisp; the news came by FedEx.

From The Daily Beast

She carried it to the top of the house and perched it on the ridge of the roof before a spinning wheel.

From Project Gutenberg

When he came near home he saw the spinning wheel still on the roof and the figure still seated before it.

From Project Gutenberg

One of the daughters invented the small ten-stringed harp, and the other the spinning wheel.

From Project Gutenberg

She was very kind to these poor children, and worked hard at her spinning-wheel and at her knitting to support herself and them.

From Project Gutenberg

When she thought that the children knew how to manage by themselves she left them and returned to her spinning-wheel.

From Project Gutenberg