: a swiveling or lever device pressed by the foot to drive a machine
treadled; treadling
ˈtred-liŋ 
ˈtre-dᵊl-iŋ
: to operate a treadle
: to operate (a machine) by a treadle
Examples of treadle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Bill Gourgey, Popular Science, 25 Apr. 2023
During the Civil War, a treadle machine, as well as hand sewing, provided the extensive wardrobe needed by the soldiers.
—Brenda Yenke, cleveland.com, 19 Sep. 2019
His only machinery was a buffing machine and a sewing table with a treadle.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2019
The treadle model #15 is now nearing antique status, being made from 1895 to 1995.
—Brenda Yenke, cleveland.com, 19 Sep. 2019
Tenzi started giving sewing lessons last year, teaching the class using old-fashioned treadle machines because City of Hope wasn’t on the electrical grid.
—Shay Maunz, Glamour, 8 Mar. 2019
Tetrev’s father helped build out the space, which features a treadle-type pottery wheel in the window of the storefront.
—Caitlin Mullen, chicagotribune.com, 12 June 2018
British dentists in the 1970s, when power outages were a regular occurrence, might have kept an old treadle drill in the cupboard to add fillings without using electricity.
—Roslyn Sulcas, New York Times, 7 June 2018
Stoppelman explained that individual warp threads, which make up the longitudinal pattern in woven cloth, are put on a roller and then threaded individually through wire heddles, which are attached to a shaft and then to a foot treadle.
—Annie Gentile, Courant Community, 22 Mar. 2018
Noun
In December 1943, longtime contributor Walter E. Burton explained how to motorize a treadle sewing machine.
—Bill Gourgey, Popular Science, 25 Apr. 2023
During the Civil War, a treadle machine, as well as hand sewing, provided the extensive wardrobe needed by the soldiers.
—Brenda Yenke, cleveland.com, 19 Sep. 2019
His only machinery was a buffing machine and a sewing table with a treadle.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2019
The treadle model #15 is now nearing antique status, being made from 1895 to 1995.
—Brenda Yenke, cleveland.com, 19 Sep. 2019
Tenzi started giving sewing lessons last year, teaching the class using old-fashioned treadle machines because City of Hope wasn’t on the electrical grid.
—Shay Maunz, Glamour, 8 Mar. 2019
Tetrev’s father helped build out the space, which features a treadle-type pottery wheel in the window of the storefront.
—Caitlin Mullen, chicagotribune.com, 12 June 2018
British dentists in the 1970s, when power outages were a regular occurrence, might have kept an old treadle drill in the cupboard to add fillings without using electricity.
—Roslyn Sulcas, New York Times, 7 June 2018
Stoppelman explained that individual warp threads, which make up the longitudinal pattern in woven cloth, are put on a roller and then threaded individually through wire heddles, which are attached to a shaft and then to a foot treadle.
—Annie Gentile, Courant Community, 22 Mar. 2018
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'treadle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near treadle
Cite this Entry
“Treadle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/treadle. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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