bobbin
/ˈbɒbɪn
/noun
1A cylinder or cone holding thread, yarn, or wire, used especially in weaving and machine sewing.In days gone by I would have ordered the non-standard bobbins my sewing machine uses from his shop and got them in mere weeks....
- Thread the machine needle with white thread and the bobbin with red thread.
- When creating a lace appliqué, use the same color thread in the bobbin and the needle.
1.1A spool or reel.Let out just enough slack line from the reel so that the bobbin is suspended two to three inches below the rod....
- The family room tree has a sewing theme, with spools, bobbins and buttons for ornaments.
2A small bar attached to a string used for raising a door latch.Little Red Riding Hood pulled the bobbin, and the door opened....
- ‘Pull the bobbin,’ answered the voice again, ‘and the latch will go up.’
Origin
Mid 16th century: from French bobine, of unknown origin.