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Where does the word "spool" come from? It comes from Middle Dutch spoele, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).
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Where does the word "spool" come from? It comes from Middle Dutch spoele, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).
Spool’s story begins in Middle Dutch: spoele meant “bobbin.” A weaver's bobbin, from the Flemish cloth trade. It reached English by 1300s as spool. Later used for film and magnetic tape. Today, spool means a cylinder on which thread or film is wound.
- Stage 1 · Middle Dutch · medieval spoele "bobbin", a weaver's bobbin, from the Flemish cloth trade.
- Stage 2 · English · 1300s spool "reel", later used for film and magnetic tape.