In the 18th century, the Swedish government made coffee and its paraphernalia (including cups and dishes) illegal for its supposed ties to rebellious sentiment.
THROSTLE
throstle
(noun) a spinning machine formerly used to twist and wind fibers of cotton or wool continuously
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
throstle (plural throstles)
A song thrush.
A machine for spinning wool, cotton, etc, from the rove, consisting of a set of drawing rollers with bobbins and flyers, and differing from the mule in having the twisting apparatus stationary and the processes continuous.
Source: Wiktionary
Thros"tle, n. Etym: [OE. throsel, AS. , ; akin to MHG. trostel, G. drossel, Icel. , Sw. trast, Lith. strazdas, L. turdus. *238. Cf. Thrush the bird.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Definition: The song thrush. See under Song.
2. A machine for spinning wool, cotton, etc., from the rove, consisting of a set of drawing rollers with bobbins and flyers, and differing from the mule in having the twisting apparatus stationary and the processes continuous; -- so called because it makes a singing noise. Throstle cock, the missel thrush. [Prov. Eng.]
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
9 March 2025
CLOG
(verb) fill to excess so that function is impaired; “Fear clogged her mind”; “The story was clogged with too many details”
Coffee Trivia
