Pa. t. spun, span. Pa. pple. spun. Forms: Inf. 1 spinnan, 3–7 spinne, 4–6 spynne (4 -en, 5 -yn), 5–6 spyn (7 spyne), 6– spin. Pa. t. 1 spann, 4–6 spanne (4–5 spane), 5– span; 1 pl. spunnon, -un, 4 pl., 6 sponne, 5 pl. spon, 6 spunne, 6– spun. Pa. pple. 1 ʓespunnen, 3 i-, 4, 6 y-sponne, 7 arch. y-spunne; 4–5 sponnen, 4–6 sponne, 5–6 spon(e, 6 spoon(ne, 5–7 spunne (6 spune), 6– spun. Also 5 spynned, 6 (9 dial.) spinned. [Common Teut.: OE. spinnan, = OFris. *spinna (WFris. spinne, EFris. spinne, spin, NFris. spen, span), MDu. and Du., MLG. and LG. spinnen, OHG. spinnan (MHG. and G. spinnen), ON. and Icel., Norw. and Sw. spinna (Da. spinde), Goth. spinnan; the stem is perhaps related to that of SPAN v.2 and to Balto-Slavic forms (with initial sp- or p-) of similar meaning (Schade Altd. Wbch. 852/2).]
I. 1. intr. To draw out and twist the fibers of some suitable material, such as wool or flax, so as to form a continuous thread; to be engaged in or to follow this occupation.
c. 725. Corpus Gloss., R 148. Reuerant [read neuerant], spunnun.
c. 975. Rushw. Gosp., Matt. vi. 28. Sceawiʓaþ lilia londes hu hie waexaþ, ne winnaþ, ne spinnaþ.
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., II. 310. Nim þone hweorfan þe wif mid spinnað.
c. 1290. St. Clement, 156, in S. Eng. Leg., I. 327. Nouþe mine hondene me beoth bi-nome, þat Ine may sevwy ne spinne.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 170. Hire moder … Bad that sche scholde … lerne forto weve and spinne, And duelle at hom and kepe hire inne.
a. 1400. Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS., 707/99. I wolde wite, whon þat Eue gon spinne, Bi whom þat ȝoure gentrie stod?
1467. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 383. To dye, carde, or spynne, weve, or cloth-walke.
1530. Palsgr., 728. And you wyll speake with my mother she spynneth nowe at home.
1560. Pilkington, Expos. Aggeus (1562), 217. When Adam dalve, and Eve span, Who was than a gentleman?
c. 1655. Milton, Sonn., xx. 8. The Lillie and Rose, that neither sow’d nor spun.
1756–7. trans. Keysler’s Trav. (1760), I. 388. The entrances are crouded with old women spinning.
1825. J. Nicholson, Operat. Mechanic, 422. The short interval when splicing the yarn, and preparing to set on to spin.
1882. ‘Ouida,’ Maremma, I. 37. In bad weather she sat at home and span.
Phr. 1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 342 b. We saye in Englyshe to teache our dame to spynne.
fig. 1768–74. Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1834), I. 293. If you go to spin finer than they have been accustomed to, [they] cry out against it as an inconceivable absurdity.
1857. Emerson, Poems, 171. The storm-wind wove, the torrent span, Where they were bid the rivers ran.
1876. Spurgeon, Commenting, 122. This author … is good but verbose. Some authors toil not, but they spin; Macculloch both toils and spins.
b. Of insects: To produce glutinous threads from the body by means of special organs.
c. 1511. [see 3 d].
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Silk, Before they begin to Spin, they always apply … these … Nipples against the Body whence the Web is begun.
1815. Kirby & Sp., Entomol. (1816), I. 408. You will find that precisely the same takes place in the minutest species that spins.
1833. Tennyson, Two Voices, 180. For every worm … Draws different threads, and … Spins, toiling out his own cocoon.
1841. T. R. Jones, Anim. Kingd., 297. When about to spin, the larva … allows a minute drop of the glutinous secretion to exude.
c. To make a noise like that of spinning.
1851. Meredith, Love in the Valley, v. Lone on the fir-branch, his rattle-note unvaried,… spins the brown eve-jar.
2. trans. To draw out (wool, flax, or other material) and convert into threads either by the hand or by machinery.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gram., xv. 97. Hiʓ spinnað wulle.
13[?]. K. Alis., 6806 (W.). They haveth no wolle to spynne.
1399. Gower, Praise Peace, 299. Men sein the wolle, whanne it is wel sponne, Doth that the cloth is strong and profitable.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour (1868), 79. She … came afore hym with a rocke under a gerdelle spynning black wolle.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 146. Flaxe … tawed, hecheled, spon.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., 39. The Towe is seuered from the Flaxe, and appoynted for his vse, so are they seuerally spon vpon the Distaffe.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 286/2. Woll is principally, nay only spun at it, and at none of the other sorts of Wheels.
1796. H. Hunter, trans. St.-Pierre’s Stud. Nat. (1799), III. 78. As for the two friends, they spun cotton from morning till night.
1835. Ure, Philos. Manuf., 222. The flax formerly spun to twelve pounds a bundle, is with hot water spun to six.
1874. Green, Short Hist., vii. § 5. 386. The farmers’ wives began everywhere to spin their wool from their own sheeps’ backs.
fig. c. 1315. Shoreham, III. 150. For wel to conne, and nauȝt to don, Nys naþer rawe ne y-sponne.
a. 1420. [see DISTAFF 1 b].
c. 1440. Cast. Persev., 2618, in Macro Plays. For no man can be war be oþer tyl he hathe al ful spunne.
1525–46. [see DISTAFF 1 b].
1633. G. Herbert, Temple, Glimpse, vi. If I have more to spinne, The wheel shall go, so that thy stay be short.
b. = To spin off (see 5 a). Also with up.
a. 1553. Udall, Royster D., I. iii. If thys distaffe were spoonne Margerie Mumblecrust … will drinke no water.
1593. G. Harvey, Pierce’s Super., 163. I must spin-vp my taske.
c. To convert (or intr., to admit of being converted) into thread, etc., by spinning. Also transf.
1669. Stillingfl., Serm., iv. 151. For plain truths lose much … and their strength is impaired when they are spun into too fine a thread.
a. 1676. Hale, Prim. Orig. Man. (1677), 306. To spin some prepared Matter into vital and sentient Semina for those insect Animals.
1780. A. Young, Tour Irel., I. 166. The 8 lb. [of flax] will spin into … 20 hanks or 5 spangles fit for a ten hundred cloth.
1842. R. Oastler, Fleet Papers, II. 26. It will not spin into good yarn, nor weave into wearable cloths.
1883. Haldane, Workshop Rec., Ser. II. 320. The number of strands of gut spun into a cord varies with the thickness of catgut required.
refl. 1867. Augusta Wilson, Vashti, xvii. Your mind … exhausts and consumes itself, like fabled Arachne, spinning itself into filmy nothings.
d. (See quot.)
1802. James, Milit. Dict., s.v., To spin hay, is to twist it up in ropes, very hard, for an expedition…. An expert horseman can spin five days forage into a very narrow compass.
e. To deposit (liquid sugar) on cakes, etc., in a thread-like form.
1883. Haldane, Workshop Rec., Ser. II. 166. Sugar may be spun over the inside of the basket.
3. To form or fabricate (a thread, etc.) by the process of drawing out (and twisting) some suitable material; to prepare the material for (a fabric or garment) by this process.
c. 1290. St. Edmund, 167, in S. Eng. Leg., I. 436. Heo [sc. a hair-coat] nas i-sponne ne i-weoue, ake i-broide [of] strengus longue.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. V. 130. My wyf … þat wollene cloþ made, Spak to þe spinsters for to spinne hit softe.
1382. Wyclif, Judg. xvi. 9. The threed of a top of flexe, that is sponnen with spotel.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, X. xiii. 141. His coyte of goldin thredis brycht Quhilk his moder hym span.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 163. Which showth in deede That a fowle spinner may spin a fayre threede.
1607. Shaks., Cor., I. iii. 93. All the yearne she spun in Vlisses absence.
1634. Milton, Comus, 83. First I must put off These my skie robes spun out of Iris Wooff.
1735. Johnson, Lobo’s Abyssinia, Voy., iv. 25. They … Sew them together with Thread which they spin out of the Bark.
1805. Act 45 Geo. III., c. 30. Sched., Every pound … of gold thread, gold lace, or gold fringe, made of plate wire spun upon silk.
1832. Ht. Martineau, Life in Wilds, iv. 51. The lace-makers and jewellers and glass-cutters, and even those who spin glass for the amusement of the wealthy.
1874. H. H. Cole, Catal. Ind. Art S. Kens. Mus., 137. The filigree … is like a fine web spun over the surface of the bottle.
transf. 1769. Mrs. Raffald, Eng. Housekpr. (1778), 186. When you spin a silver web, or a desert, always take particular care your fire is clear. Ibid. You must not spin it before a kitchen fire.
b. In figurative contexts.
13[?]. K. Alis., 7251 (W.). He hath y-sponne a threde, That is y-come of eovel rede.
c. 1450. Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 231. Let theym [wear] suche clothis as they spane.
a. 1568. A. Scott, Poems (S.T.S.), xxx. 7. Than is his weid of vertew spune.
1586. Kyd, Verses Praise & Joy, 31. My thred is cut, and yet it is not spunne; And now I liue, and now my life is done.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Past., IV. 57. The Fates, when they this happy web have spun.
1757. Gray, Bard, 98. Weave we the woof. The thread is spun.
1820. Shelley, M. Gisborne, 154. How we spun A shroud of talk to hide us from the sun Of this familiar life.
1852. Thackeray, Esmond, II. xiii. [A grave] so fresh made that the spring had scarce had time to spin a coverlet for it.
† c. In the ironical phrase to spin a fair thread.
1554. Latimer, in Strype, Mem. (1721), III. 93. If you tarry with them, you have sponne a fayre Threde.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 56. In beyng your owne foe, you spin a fayre threede.
1656. Hobbes, Liberty, Necessity, & Chance (1841), 31. If it be so, he hath spun a fair thread, to make all this stir.
[1818. Scott, Rob Roy, xxiii. Spinners! ye’ll spin and wind yoursell a bonny pirn.]
d. transf. Of insects. (Cf. 1 b.)
c. 1511. 1st Eng. Bk. Amer. (Arb.), p. xxxv/1. This wormes … goo in too that fyre, and there they spynne lyke the wormes yat the sylke spynneth.
1660. trans. Amyraldus’ Treat. conc. Relig., II. vi. 234. Insects spin silk for his service.
1700. C. Nesse, Antid. Armin. (1827), 117. If man (spider-like) could spin a thread out of his own bowels.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Silk, The Silk-Spider makes a Silk, every whit as beautiful … as the Silk-worm: It spins it out of the Anus.
1815. Kirby & Sp., Entomol. (1818), I. 406. All spiders do not spin webs. Ibid. The thread spun by spiders.
1861. P. P. Carpenter, in Rep. Smithsonian Instit. 1860, 265. The animal [Crenella] spins for itself a silky nest.
fig. 1841. De Quincey, Style, iv. in Blackw. Mag., Feb., 215/2. Those accidents of time and place which obliged Greece to spin most of her speculations, like a spider, out of her own bowels.
1850. Tennyson, In Mem., cxxiv. I found Him not … thro’ the questions men may try, The petty cobwebs we have spun.
4. fig. a. Of the Fates or other powers: To devise or appoint (one’s destiny or fortune).
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, III. 734. O fatal sustren, which, er any clooth Me shapen was, my destene me sponne.
1430–40. Lydg., Bochas, VIII. xxv. The parchas susterne spon so hys fate.
1606. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iv. I. Tropheis, 932. On David’s head, God doth not spin good hap.
1649. G. Daniel, Trinarch., Hen. V., ccxxiii. To Spin his Fate To an ignobler End, then one soe Bold Had merited.
1726. Pope, Odyss., XX. 250. May fate … spin thy future with a whiter clue!
1840. Penny Cycl., XVII. 242/2. The Fates are usually spoken of by the Greek and Roman poets as spinning the destinies of men.
b. To evolve, produce, contrive, or devise, in a manner suggestive of spinning.
c. 1555. Harpsfield, Divorce Hen. VIII. (Camden), 227. This interpretation is finely spinned … out of the lawyer’s fantastical head.
1633. G. Herbert, Temple, Praise, i. Lord, I will … speak thy praise…. My busie heart shall spin it all my dayes.
1664. Cotton, Scarron., 56. Should I begin my story spinning, From the first end to th’ last Beginning.
1746. Francis, trans. Horace, Sat., II. i. 4. My Lines are weak, unsinew’d, others say—A Man might spin a thousand such a Day.
1791–1823. D’Israeli, Cur. Lit. (1866), 509. Many secret agents … were spinning their dark intrigues.
1850. Robertson, Serm., Ser. II. ii. (1864), 24. A system of wild fancies spun out of the brain.
1870. Max Müller, Sci. Relig. (1873), 60. I cannot help suspecting that language has been at work spinning mythology.
c. To draw out, prolong. (Cf. 6.)
1629. J. Maxwell, trans. Herodian (1635), 214. Which being no small detriment to the Romans, did spinne the Warre to a great length.
1713. Swift, Cadenus & Vanessa, Wks. 1755, III. II. 7. For sixteen years the cause was spun, And then stood, where it first begun.
1789. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), III. 58. If the fear of the former alternative prevails they will spin the matter into negotiation.
1792. Mme. D’Arblay, Diary, V. VII. 323. The little novel … would not have gone on improving, as the latter part begins already to seem spun.
5. Spin off: a. To finish or clear off (a distaff, etc.) by spinning. (Cf. 2 b.)
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 549. One would imagine he saw every woman making hast to spin off her distaffe, striving avie who shall have done her taske first.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., I. iii. 110. It hangs like flax on a distaffe: & I hope to see a huswife take thee between her legs, & spin it off.
1690. Temple, Ess., Poet., Wks. 1720, I. 249. To spin off this Thread, which is already grown too long.
1735–1894. [see ROCK sb.2 2].
b. To throw or cast off (a composition) in a continuous or easy manner.
1895. Daily News, 24 April, 7/4. He [Pierre Zaccone] … used to spin off novels in the intervals between signing piles of papers.
6. Spin out: a. To render lengthy or protracted; to protract, prolong.
Used with a variety of objects, the commonest types of which are illustrated by the separate groups of quotations. Cooper (1565, s.v. Parcæ) has ‘to spynne out the threade of mans lyfe,’ and an early example of the literal use occurs s.v. SPINNER 2 (quot. 1393).
(a) 1603. in Moryson, Itin. (1617), II. 282. Shee was still apt to beleeve that hee … would spin out all things further then were requisite, with delayes and shifts.
1646. J. Hall, Horæ Vac., 154. Neither is any warre so long spun out.
1670. G. H., Hist. Cardinals, III. II. 282. It was done more to procrastinate, and spin out the Conclave.
1759. Robertson, Hist. Scot., II. Wks. 1813, I. 106. Under his management the negociations were spun out to a great length.
1770. Langhorne, Plutarch (1879), II. 764/1. He spun out the debate till it was too late to conclude upon anything that day.
1865. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., XXI. iv. VI. 476. Kaunitz … span out the Turk pacification in a wretched manner for years coming.
1885. Law Times, 30 May, 74/1. That arbitration … was spun out for forty-four days.
(b) 1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 574. Therefore they spin out their liues to the length of the thread.
1663. Bp. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr., xxiv. They would fain spin out the most miserable life to the greatest length.
1734. Watts, Reliq. Juv. (1789), 130.
| Thus he spun out his supple soul, and drew | |
| A length of life amidst a vicious crew. |
1872. Punch, 19 Oct., 163/1. If I were condemned to execution, I should perhaps be inclined to spin out my time by talking till they took me off by force.
(c) 1633. Ford, Broken H., I. i. You spin out your discourse.
1673. Lady’s Call., I. v. § 75. This section is spun out to a length very unproportionable to the former.
1710. Steele, Tatler, No. 132, ¶ 10. Our innocent Conversation, which we spun out till about Ten of the Clock.
1787. Mme. D’Arblay, Diary, 16 Feb. I … spun out into an hour’s discourse what might have been said in three minutes.
1813. Prichard, Phys. Hist. Man, vii. § 4. 357. This sort of argument has been … so spun out by antiquaries of late times.
(d) 1644. Prynne & Walker, Fiennes’ Trial, 46. In this his defence (to spin out time) he led us in perambulation through all the Works, Forts, Dikes, Rampires [etc.].
1673. S’ too him Bayes, 129. No body that hop’d to have a Reprieve ever spun out time at last as thou hast done.
1761. Hume, Hist. Eng., lxvi. (1806), V. 45. The French ambassadors spun out the time till the morning of the critical day.
1817. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. V. iv. 439. The distance of Madras would aid the Rajah in spinning out the time till the commencement of the rains.
b. To spend or occupy (time) in inactivity or without effect.
1608–14. in Leadam, Crt. Requests (Selden), Introd. 96. Counsell … doe … Spyne and Trifle out one or two termes about the exceptions.
1646. H. P., Medit. Seige, 42. Although I die at twenty, I have lived more then he that hath spunne out a hundred uselesse yeares.
1712. J. James, trans. Le Blond’s Gardening, 108. Those People are generally intolerably lazy, and have no Concern but to spin out the Day.
1789. in Nairne Peerage Evid. (1874), 127. I shall endeavour to spin out the remainder of my days as comfortably as my situation can permit.
c. To evolve or devise by mental effort; to express at length.
1652. N. Culverwel, Lt. Nature, xi. (1654), 97. Mans reason is fain to spend time … in spinning out a Syllogisme.
1663. Marvell, Corr., Wks. (Grosart), II. 97. I have no more time left to spin out in words the kindnes which I acknowledge from you and beare to you.
1736. Gentl. Mag., VI. 466/2. How many hundred Declarations has Caleb D’Anvers spun out from a Thread of this Clue.
1828. Scott, Aunt Marg. Mirror, Introd. The sort of waking dreams which my imagination spins out.
1864. Thackeray, D. Duval, viii. (1867), 221. He could spin out sentences by the yard.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), IV. 426–7. Str.… To be spinning out a long soliloquy or address, as if I wanted to show off.
d. To draw out, extend, prolong, in length or duration.
1655. Gurnall, Chr. in Arm., verse 14. ii. (1669), 13/2. He who is spun out at length, but not thicken’d suitable to his height.
1663. Bp. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr., xxxix. The Paracelsian promise of spinning out the life of man to a length equal with the clew of time.
1717. Prior, Alma, III. 539. Would she, in friendship, peace, and plenty Spin out our years to four times twenty.
1865. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., XX. i. VI. 5. Prince Henri and Fouquet have spun themselves out into a long chain of posts.
e. To bring to an end; to consume or exhaust. Chiefly refl. or in pass.
1718. Entertainer, No. 35. 236. To beat the wind, and spider-like, to spin out ones self for those who will not thank him for it.
1728. Ramsay, Fables, Fox turned Preacher, 51. His glass spun out, he ceast.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, XI. vii. ¶ 3. My brain is fairly spun out.
f. To cause to last out; to use sparingly.
1726. Shelvocke, Voy. round World, 328. We might have spun out what we had by good husbandry.
1862. Mrs. H. Wood, Mrs. Halliburton’s Troubles, I. xvi. 195. We must spin the money out … until something comes in.
g. intr. To run out; to extend; to last out.
1724. De Foe, Mem. Cavalier (1840), 258. The time spinning out, the king’s commissioners demanded longer time for the treaty.
1758. J. Burton, Monast. Ebor., Pref. p. xi. This preface has spun out to a greater length than I expected.
1891. C. Roberts, Adrift Amer., 51. In my … state of ignorance with regard to making money spin out.
II. 7. intr. To shoot or spring up; to grow or rise rapidly. rare.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., A. 35. So semly a sede moȝt fayly not, Þat spryngande spycez vp ne sponne.
1641. Milton, Animadv., Wks. 1851, III. 229. Their unquestionable charity, which … like a working flame, had spun up to such a height of pure desire.
8. Of blood, etc.: To issue in a rapid stream; to gush or spurt. Freq. with out.
c. 1400. Laud Troy Bk., 8942. Depe in-to his fflesch it ran, That the blod fast out span.
c. 1560. Ingelend, Disobed. Child, A iv. Shoulde I be content then thyther to runne, Where the bloude from my breeche thus shoulde spunne.
1573. L. Lloyd, Marrow of Hist. (1653), 289. Alexander the great being wounded, and his blood spinning out.
1627. Drayton, Agincourt, 131. The blood out of their Helmets span.
1684. R. Waller, Nat. Exper., 155. That thin Spirit … which in a small Thread spins out of the same Peel when it is squeezed.
1720. Pope, Iliad, XXI. 184. One raz’d Achilles’ hand; the spouting blood Spun forth.
1881. Mrs. R. T. Cooke, Somebody’s Neighbors, 84. The sharp streams of milk spun and foamed into the pail below.
b. trans. To send forth in a stream. rare–1.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit., I. 279. Spatious pastures, and flockes of cattell spinning forth milke abundantly.
9. To move rapidly; to run quickly; now esp. to ride or drive at a rapid and even rate.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 3033. He spynnes [v.r. spedes] him out a grete space fra hes peris all.
c. 1430. Chev. Assigne, 331. An edder spronge out of his shelde & in his body spynnethe.
c. 1450. Cast. Persev., 1400. With spete of spere to þee I spynne.
1556. J. Heywood, Spider & Fly, lxiii. 45. Streight from that place they are speedilie spinning, To an other host.
1581. A. Hall, Iliad, V. 79. The which the heardman when he sees, for feare begins to spin.
1842. Tennyson, Sir Galahad, v. The tempest crackles on the leads, And, ringing, spins from brand and mail.
1850. Scoresby, Cheever’s Whaleman’s Adv., iii. (1859), 36. The boat spun after him with singular swiftness.
1883. F. M. Crawford, Dr. Claudius, 200. There was a cab at the door of the club, and in a minute more he was spinning along Fifth Avenue.
b. To pass or be spent quickly.
1850. Thackeray, Pendennis, x. The young one is making the money spin.
1868. Dickens, Lett. (1880), II. 362. I hope that the time will soon begin to spin away.
c. trans. To cause to pass away; to carry away or convey rapidly.
1696. Phillips, Amusement, any idle Employment to spin away time.
1877. Mrs. Oliphant, Young Musgrave, I. xii. 205. Lovely horses who could spin her away over the broad country.
1880. Miss Braddon, Just as I am, vi. I shall soon spin him over to Highclere.
10. To revolve or gyrate; to whirl round.
1667. Milton, P. L., VIII. 164. The Earth … With inoffensive pace that spinning sleeps On her soft Axle.
1700. Dryden, Ovid’s Met., VIII. 112. Quick, and more quick he spins in giddy Gires, Then falls.
1784. Cowper, Task, III. 491. Thrice must the voluble and restless earth Spin round upon her axle, ere the warmth … attain the surface.
1825. Scott, Talism., xx. Dance, or we will scourge thee with our bowstrings, till thou spin as never top did under schoolboy’s lash.
1846. Greener, Sci. Gunnery, 352. Do not require a bullet to spin twice on its axis, if once is sufficient.
1888. J. Inglis, Tent Life in Tigerland, 260. Sometimes we spinned round and round like a teetotum.
fig. 1805. Wordsw., Prelude, II. 47. We ran a boisterous course; the year span round With giddy motion.
1893. Times, 15 June, 9/6. The mind accustomed to spin upon the poles of Greek and pure mathematics.
b. Of the brain or head: To whirl; to be giddy or dazed.
1819. Byron, Juan, II. cx. And as he gazed, his dizzy brain spun fast, And down he sunk.
1886. Baring-Gould, Crt. Royal, III. xlvi. 93. My head spins. I cannot think.
1894. Stevenson, Lett. (1899), II. 327. My head is simply spinning with a multitude of affairs.
11. trans. To cause to turn or revolve rapidly; to twirl or whirl.
1612. Dekker, If it be not Good, Wks. 1873, III. 296. Ile turne the wheeles: and spin the howers vp faster.
1830. Galt, Lawrie T., II. i. I. 90. There be you spinning your thumbs with a small child that ha’n’t got no mother.
1842. Browning, Spanish Cloister, vii. Spin him round and send him flying Off to Hell.
1870. Emerson, Soc. & Solit., vii. 138. When you spun tops and snapped marbles.
b. To cause (a chafer) to fly while secured by a thread passed through its tail.
1801. Strutt, Sports & Past., IV. iv. 291, note. When a child I was caught by my mother … in the act of spinning a chafer.
1844. J. T. Hewlett, Parsons & W., iii. To spear trout, spin cockchafers, bait cats.
c. With cognate object.
1828. Lytton, Pelham, II. iii. 14. They just walk a quadrille or spin a waltz.
d. techn. To shape (articles of sheet-metal) by pressure applied during rotation on a lathe.
1853. Ure, Dict. Arts (ed. 4), II. 865. ‘Raising’ by means of ‘spinning’ and stamping has to a great extent superseded the older methods of tin plate working.
1884. B’ham Daily Post, 24 Jan., 3/3, Advt., Britannia-metal Spinners.—Wanted a Man, who can Spin and Make Up.
12. Angling. a. trans. To cause (a minnow or other bait) to revolve in the water by fastening it on the hook in a particular manner.
1814–24. Col. Hawker, Instructions Yng Sportsm., 173. Trolling, or spinning a minnow, is the other most general mode of trout fishing. Ibid., 175. A new gut seldom spins the minnow so well as one that is half worn out.
1856. ‘Stonehenge,’ Brit. Rural Sports, 254/2. In dead water a well mounted minnow or gudgeon may be spun with great effect.
b. intr. To fish with a spinning bait.
1863. ‘Ouida,’ Held in Bondage (1870), 7. De Vigne stopped to have a glance across country as he stood trolling and spinning.
1867. F. Francis, Angling, i. 30, note. When spinning for trout.
c. trans. To fish (a pool, etc.), to rouse up (a fish), by means of a spinning bait.
1886. Field, 30 Jan., 133/3. He was to be occasionally seen spinning the weir pool and scours below Marsh Lock.
1895. Baily’s Mag., May, 357/2. If he does not ‘spin up’ a fish, he brings his minnow in as short as he can.
13. slang. To reject (a candidate) at an examination; to pluck or plough. Usu. in pass.
1860. in Slang Dict., 223.
1865. Pall Mall Gaz., 4 Aug., 9/2. The historical test is, we imagine, the one which will ‘spin’ most applicants.
1897. Brit. Weekly, 7 Jan., 214/5. ‘How far through did you say he was with his medical course?’ ‘He was spun in the final,’ I answered.
b. intr. To fail in an examination.
1869. Pall Mall Gaz., 24 Nov., 3/2. If an ensign passes his regimental, and ‘spins’ in his special examination.
14. In combs., as spin-’em-round, a game of chance (see quot. 1859); also dial., a merry-go-round; spin-heat, the rotatory form of heat-energy.
1851. Mayhew, Lond. Labour, I. 4/1. The Proprietors of Street Games, as swings,… down the dolly, spin-’em-rounds, prick the garter, thimble-rig, etc.
1859. Slang Dict., 98. Spin-em-rounds, a street game consisting of a piece of brass, wood, or iron, balanced on a pin and turned quickly around on a board, when the point, arrow shaped, stops at a number and decides the bet one way or the other.
1899. Lockyer, in Nature, 20 April, 585/2. To get concrete images of these effects we spoke of path-heat, spin-heat, and wobble-heat.
