treadle
pronunciation
How to pronounce treadle in British English:
UK [ˈtredl]
How to pronounce treadle in American English:
US [ˈtrɛdl]
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- Noun:
- a lever that is operated with the foot
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- Verb:
- tread over
- operate (machinery) by a treadle
Word Origin
- treadle (n.)
- "lever worked by foot," c. 1400, from Old English tredel "step, stair, sole of the foot," from tredan "to tread" (see tread (v.)) + instrumental suffix -el (1). Compare handle (n.).
Example
- 1. Drag onto the page . Right-click to make a treadle , or to resize .
- 2. The treadle pump - an irrigation technology adapted to the needs of small farmers .
- 3. Morse operated the treadle the graphophone was not electrically powered-and on his return to london delightedly showed henry edmunds the product of his labors : " a small black cylinder with a few black spiral lines traced upon it containing the record of the voice and speech of the celebrated queen . "