Standard Lemma guide

niddy-noddy

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A tool used to make skeins from yarn, consisting of a central bar with crossbars at each end, offset from each other by 90°.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Origin obscure. Perhaps from niddy (“grandmother”) + noddy, from the nodding motion associated with winding the yarn.

Across languages

Translations

24 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: motovidlo — a tool to make skeins from yarn
  • Old Czech: motovidlo — a tool to make skeins from yarn
  • Dutch: handhaspel — a tool to make skeins from yarn
  • French: dévidoir à main — a tool to make skeins from yarn
  • German: Kreuzhaspel — a tool to make skeins from yarn
  • German: Nicker — a tool to make skeins from yarn
  • Italian: aspo — a tool to make skeins from yarn
  • Kashubian: mòtowidło — a tool to make skeins from yarn
  • Norwegian: hespetre — a tool to make skeins from yarn
  • Pannonian Rusyn: мотовидло (motovidlo) — a tool to make skeins from yarn
  • Polabian: mötüvai̯dlĕ — a tool to make skeins from yarn
  • Polish: motowidło — a tool to make skeins from yarn
  • Old Polish: motowidło — a tool to make skeins from yarn
  • Serbo-Croatian: motovilo — a tool to make skeins from yarn
  • Serbo-Croatian: rašak — a tool to make skeins from yarn
  • Silesian: motowidło — a tool to make skeins from yarn
  • Slovak: motovidlo — a tool to make skeins from yarn
  • Slovene: motovílọ — a tool to make skeins from yarn
  • Slovincian: môtôwjidlô — a tool to make skeins from yarn
  • Lower Sorbian: mótejdło — a tool to make skeins from yarn
  • Upper Sorbian: motydło — a tool to make skeins from yarn
  • Spanish: aspa — a tool to make skeins from yarn
  • Swedish: härva — a tool to make skeins from yarn
  • Welsh: ystyllen ddirwyn — a tool to make skeins from yarn