heddle

American  

[hed-l] / ˈhɛd l /

noun

1. one of the sets of vertical cords or wires in a loom, forming the principal part of the harness that guides the warp threads.

---

heddle British  

/ ˈhɛdəl /

noun

1. one of a set of frames of vertical wires on a loom, each wire having an eye through which a warp thread can be passed

---

Etymology

Origin of heddle

1505–15; perhaps representing Old English *hefedl, a metathetic variant of hefeld ( Middle English helde, ModE heald ), cognate with Old Saxon hevild; akin to Old Norse hafald

Example Sentences

Holding a heddle rod to separate the warp threads, she draws the continuous horizontal weft thread in and out of one or more warp threads.

From Scientific American • Sep. 15, 2022

First: by the action of one foot-treadle one harness or heddle, holding every alternate warp-thread, is depressed from the level of the entire expanse of warp-threads.

From Home Life in Colonial Days by Earle, Alice Morse

By raising or lowering the heddle frame, an opening was formed through which the filling thread, wound on a rude shuttle, was thrown.

From Textiles and Clothing by Watson, Kate Heintz

They had the heddle in one of its earliest forms and had consequently made the first great step in the evolution of the loom as we now know it.

From Ancient Egyptian and Greek Looms by Roth, H. Ling (Henry Ling)

The arrangement of the lease rod and heddle sticks has been already described; in addition to these the threads are further controlled by a reed board which acts both as warp spacer and beater-in.

From The Tinguian Social, Religious, and Economic Life of a Philippine Tribe by Cole, Fay-Cooper