Also 6 whar(r)owe, wherrow(e, 9 worra. [By-form of WHARVE sb.] = WHARVE sb. Obs. exc. dial. (= grooved pulley in spinning-wheel). Also attrib. wharrow-spindle (a heraldic bearing).
[c. 1475. Pict. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 794/18. Hoc vertebrum, a aworowylle.]
1519. Horman, Vulg., 149 b. I wotte nat where is my spyndel with the wharowe.
c. 1529. Skelton, E. Rummyng, 298. Theyr wharrowe, Theyr rybskyn and theyr spyndell.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, VI. xxix. 695. The fruite whiche is large, and almost fashioned lyke to a wherrowe or buckler.
1610. Guillim, Heraldry, IV. vii. 204. The round Ball at the lower end serueth to the fast twisting of the threed, and is called a Wharrow: and thereof this is called a Wharrow Spindle.
1716. S. Kent, Gram. Her., s.v. Trefuses of Cornwall, A Chevron between three Wharrow Spindles Sable.
1825. Jennings, Obs. Dial. W. Eng., 84. The spill and worra are attached to the common spinning-wheel.
c. 1828. Berry, Encycl. Her., I. Gloss., Wharrow-Spindle is represented in heraldry with a hook at the end, to spin with a distaff.
