Lathe

Lathe Lathe (l[=a][th]), 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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

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}. [1913 Webster]

{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. [1913 Webster]