needle English · revision 10646

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725|origins=ang nǣdl}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈniː.dəl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|ang|nǣdl]] (about 700, in the earliest glossaries),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[m|gem-pro|*nēþlō]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) cognate with Old Saxon nāthla, Dutch naald, German Nadel, Old Norse nál and Gothic nēþla.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) It is formed from a base *nē-, to sew,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) and an instrumental suffix,^(Etymonline) from an Indo-European root also seen in Latin nēre and Greek neîn, to spin, Greek nêma, thread, and German nähen, to sew.^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A slender pointed instrument for carrying thread through cloth: about 725.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The magnetized needle of a compass is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) and a pillar or obelisk (Cleopatra's Needle) and a sharp rock from the 14th century.^(Hoad 1986) ''A needle in a haystack'' is first a needle in a meadow, in Thomas More (about 1530).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The surgical needle is from 1727, the gramophone needle from 1902, and a pointer on a dial from 1928.^(Etymonline) The verb, to sew or pierce with a needle, is from 1715;^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) to goad or provoke is from 1881,^(Etymonline) probably from an earlier sense to haggle (1812).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – a sewing needle.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 14th century – a compass needle.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1530 – a needle in a meadow.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1715 – to needle (verb).^(Etymonline)

+ * 1727 – a surgical needle.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1881 – to provoke.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A thin pointed piece of steel with an eye for [[thread]], used for [[sew|alt=sewing]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A long rod used in knitting, or a hooked one for crochet.^(Collins 2023)

+ # The hollow pointed tube of a [[syringe]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # The pointer of a compass or gauge.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # The thin, stiff leaf of a pine or fir.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To provoke or tease.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To sew or pierce with a needle.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[needler]]

+ * [[needlelike]]

+ * [[needlecraft]]

+ * [[needlefish]]

+ * [[needlepoint]]

+ * [[needlestick]]

+ * [[needlewoman]]

+ * [[needlework]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}