- lay
- 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]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.