treadle — ► NOUN ▪ a lever worked by the foot and imparting motion to a machine. ► VERB ▪ operate by a treadle. ORIGIN Old English, «stair, step» … English terms dictionary
treadle — [tred′ l] n. [ME tredel < OE tredan: see TREAD] a lever or pedal moved by the foot as to turn a wheel vi. treadled, treadling to work a treadle … English World dictionary
Treadle — Trea dle, n. [OE. tredyl a step, AS. tredel. See {Tread}.] 1. The part of a foot lathe, or other machine, which is pressed or moved by the foot. [1913 Webster] 2. (Biol.) The chalaza of a bird s egg; the tread. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
treadle — (n.) lever worked by foot, c.1400, from O.E. tredel step, stair, from tredan to tread (see TREAD (Cf. tread)) + instrumental suffix el (Cf. HANDLE (Cf. handle)) … Etymology dictionary
treadle — I. noun Etymology: Middle English tredel step of a stair, from Old English, from tredan Date: 15th century a swiveling or lever device pressed by the foot to drive a machine II. verb (treadled; treadling) Date: 1891 intransitive verb to operate a … New Collegiate Dictionary
treadle — n. to work a treadle * * * [ tredl] to work a treadle … Combinatory dictionary
treadle — UK [ˈtred(ə)l] / US noun [countable] Word forms treadle : singular treadle plural treadles a part of a machine that you move up and down with your foot to make the machine work … English dictionary
treadle — treadler /tred leuhr/, n. /tred l/, n., v., treadled, treadling. n. 1. a lever or the like worked by continual action of the foot to impart motion to a machine. 2. a platform, as on a bus or trolleycar, for opening an exit door. v.i. 3. to work a … Universalium
treadle — 1. noun A foot operated pedal or lever that generates circular motion. 2. verb To use a treadle … Wiktionary
treadle — [[t]tre̱d(ə)l[/t]] treadles N COUNT The treadle on a spinning wheel or sewing machine is a lever that you operate with your foot in order to turn a wheel in the machine … English dictionary
