Obs. exc. dial. Forms: 8–9 Sc. winnel, win(n)le, 7– windle. [The second element of GARNWINDLE, YARNWINDLE, q.v. for earlier examples.] An appliance for winding yarn or thread.
1687. Miége, Gt. Fr. Dict., II. Windles, or Blades to wind Yarn on, un Devidoir.
17[?]. Loving Lass, in Ramsay’s Tea-t. Misc. (1762), 172. My hanks of yarn, my rock and reel, My winnels and my spinning-wheel.
1791. Alex. Wilson, in Poems & Lit. Prose (1876), II. 45. Jennock turn’t the winles’ blade An’ waft in lapfu’s left her.
1845. S. Judd, Margaret, ii. (1871), 5. From a windle the thread is conducted to the quills.
