Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Lathe?

\Lathe\, n. [AS. l[=ae][eth]. Of. uncertain origin.] Formerly, a part or division of a county among the Anglo-Saxons. At present it consists of four or five hundreds, and is confined to the county of Kent. [Written also {lath}.] --Brande & C.
\Lathe\, n. [OE. lathe a granary; akin to G. lade a chest, Icel. hla[eth]a a storehouse, barn; but cf. also Icel. l["o][eth] a smith's lathe. Senses 2 and 3 are perh. of the same origin as lathe a granary, the original meaning being, a frame to hold something. If so, the word is from an older form of E. lade to load. See {Lade} to load.] 1. A granary; a barn. [Obs.] --Chaucer. 2. (Mach.) A machine for turning, that is, for shaping articles of wood, metal, or other material, by causing them to revolve while acted upon by a cutting tool. 3. The movable swing frame of a loom, carrying the reed for separating the warp threads and beating up the weft; -- called also {lay} and {batten}. {Blanchard lathe}, a lathe for turning irregular forms after a given pattern, as lasts, gunstocks, and the like. {Drill lathe}, or {Speed lathe}, a small lathe which, from its high speed, is adapted for drilling; a hand lathe. {Engine lathe}, a turning lathe in which the cutting tool has an automatic feed; -- used chiefly for turning and boring metals, cutting screws, etc. {Foot lathe}, a lathe which is driven by a treadle worked by the foot. {Geometric lathe}. See under {Geometric} {Hand lathe}, a lathe operated by hand; a power turning lathe without an automatic feed for the tool. {Slide lathe}, an engine lathe. {Throw lathe}, a small lathe worked by one hand, while the cutting tool is held in the other.