Lathe
/leɪð/noun
A machine tool that rotates a workpiece so it can be cut, shaped, or drilled.
Did you know?Lathe comes from Old English *læðe* / *hleðe* meaning a machine or tool, ultimately tied to Germanic roots for making and shaping rather than any mystical source.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*þēudan?
“No established form directly for this word; the English word is traced through Germanic forms for tools and devices.”
Old English
OE
læðe
“A machine or tool, especially a device for turning or shaping.”
Middle English
ME
lathe
“A device or machine used in turning or shaping materials.”
Modern English
EN
lathe
“A machine tool that rotates a workpiece for cutting or shaping.”