drawboy

[ draw-boi ]

noun

1. an apparatus for controlling and manipulating the harness cords on a power loom.
2. a boy who operates and controls the harness cords of a draw-loom.

Word History and Origins

Origin of drawboy¹

First recorded in 1725–35; draw + boy

Example Sentences

That ended and the weaving begun, she took to questioning Cimarron the drawboy.

From Project Gutenberg

When Cornelys was revolving some new combination or design in his head, his drawboy was as silent as the weaver’s beam, and the whirr and clack of the loom were the only sounds in the place.

From Project Gutenberg

The Flemish weaver might be silent, but he was not stupid, and the drawboy, the dusky youth with the coarse black hair, was like a wild panther-cub.

From Project Gutenberg

The drawboy’s work was to pull each set of cords in regular order forward and downward.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus the drawboy and the reader of designs were both at once superseded. 

From Project Gutenberg