|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries: |
Research categories | Follow us on Twitter |
Research categories
View all topics in the newsView all reference sources at Encyclopedia.com |
|||
needle
needle implement of metal or other material used to carry the thread in sewing and in various forms of needlework and manufacturing. The earliest needles were merely awls or punches. Stone, bone, ivory, and thorns, with or without an eye, were used by primitive peoples. The midrib of the palm is used in Africa, with the thread tied on. Much of the embroidery of antiquity must have required fine needles; China is supposed to have first used steel ones, and the Moors are credited with carrying them to the West. The needle-making trade was established in Nuremberg in the 14th cent. and in England in Elizabeth's reign. In 1656 the first needlemakers' guild was chartered. Manufacturing by machinery developed gradually. In 1785 the first steel rod was mechanically prepared; in 1826 eyes were drilled by stamping, and by 1870 the manufacture was mostly mechanical. Different kinds of steel are used for different needles, e.g., chromium and stainless steel for surgical and hypodermic uses. Over 250 kinds of needles are made, such as the pearl needles of India, bead needles for fine beadwork, and others for carpets, shoes, upholstery, sailmaking, knitting, and every type of sewing machine. |
|
|
Cite this article
"needle." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "needle." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-needle.html "needle." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-needle.html |
|
needle
needle look for a needle in a haystack proverbial expression for attempting an impossible task; earlier versions (recorded from the mid 16th century) are look for a needle in a meadow and look for a needle in a bottle of hay.
needles and pins, needles and pins, when a man marries his trouble begins traditional saying, recorded (originally as a nursery rhyme) from the mid 19th century, perhaps reflecting on the pressures of domestic life. See also eye of a needle. |
|
|
Cite this article
ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "needle." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "needle." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-needle.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "needle." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-needle.html |
|
needle
needle pointed implement for sewing OE.; magnetized steel of a compass; pillar, obelisk; sharp-pointed mass of rock XIV. OE. nǣdl = OS. nādla, nāthla, MLG. nālde, OHG. nādala (Du. naald, G. nadel), ON. nál, Goth. nēþla :- Gmc. *nēþlō, f. IE. *nē- sew, repr. also by MDu. naeyen (Du. naaie), OHG. nāian (G. nähen), L. nēre spin, Gr. nēma thread. See -LE1.
|
|
|
Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "needle." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "needle." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-needle.html T. F. HOAD. "needle." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-needle.html |
|
needle
needle (nee-d'l) n. a slender sharp-pointed instrument. Most needles used for sewing up tissue during surgery have the suture material fused onto them. Hollow needles are used to inject substances into the body, to obtain specimens of tissue (see puncture), or to withdraw fluid from a cavity. intraosseous n. see intraosseous. See also stop needle.
|
|
|
Cite this article
"needle." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "needle." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-needle.html "needle." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-needle.html |
|
needle
needle ˈnēdl n. a steel pin that explodes the cartridge of a breech-loading gun.
|
|
|
Cite this article
"needle." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "needle." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-needle.html "needle." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-needle.html |
|
needle
needle A linear, commonly pungent leaf (e.g. in many conifers).
|
|
|
Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "needle." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "needle." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-needle.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "needle." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-needle.html |
|
needle
needle. See spire.
|
|
|
Cite this article
JAMES STEVENS CURL. "needle." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JAMES STEVENS CURL. "needle." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-needle.html JAMES STEVENS CURL. "needle." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-needle.html |
|
needle
needle •addle, paddle, saddle, skedaddle, staddle, straddle
•candle, Coromandel, dandle, Handel, handle, mishandle, Randall, sandal, scandal, vandal
•manhandle, panhandle
•packsaddle • side-saddle
•backpedal, heddle, medal, meddle, pedal, peddle, treadle
•Grendel, Kendall, Lendl, Mendel, Rendell, sendal, Wendell
•cradle, ladle
•beadle, bipedal, credal, needle, wheedle
•diddle, fiddle, griddle, kiddle, Liddell, middle, piddle, riddle, twiddle
•brindle, dwindle, kindle, spindle, swindle, Tyndale
•paradiddle, taradiddle
•pyramidal • apsidal
•bridal, bridle, fratricidal, genocidal, germicidal, homicidal, idle, idol, infanticidal, insecticidal, intertidal, matricidal, parricidal, patricidal, pesticidal, regicidal, sidle, suicidal, tidal, tyrannicidal, uxoricidal
•coddle, doddle, model, noddle, swaddle, toddle, twaddle, waddle
•fondle, rondel
•mollycoddle
•caudal, chordal, dawdle
•poundal, roundel
•Gödel, modal, yodel
•crinoidal
•boodle, caboodle, canoodle, doodle, feudal, noodle, poodle, strudel, udal
•befuddle, cuddle, fuddle, huddle, muddle, puddle, ruddle
•bundle, trundle
•prebendal • synodal
•antipodal, tripodal
•citadel
•curdle, engirdle, girdle, hurdle
•dirndl
|
|
|
Cite this article
"needle." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "needle." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-needle.html "needle." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-needle.html |
|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries:
HighBeam™ Research, Inc. © Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
The Encyclopedia.com advertising network includes:
