heckle – First a “flax comb” for splitting and straightening the fibers for spinning; its metaphorical sense developed from its verb form, “to mangle by cutting, to cut roughly.” More…
distaff side, spear side – The female side of a family is the distaff side—the distaff being a stick used for holding yarn when spinning; the male side is the spear side. More…
fouette – A spectacular pirouette in which the ballerina whips her raised leg around in an eggbeater motion while spinning on the other leg. More…