treadle

/ˈtrɛdl/

Other forms: treadles; treadled; treadling

A treadle is a foot pedal that's used to operate a machine, like the treadle that powers a spinning wheel or floor loom.

Treadles are essentially levers, and they work by being pushed repeatedly. Using a machine with two treadles can be a workout, as you push down with alternating feet, almost like riding a bike. Most treadles are connected to a crank that powers a sewing machine, a lathe, or an old-fashioned table saw.Treadle is from the Old English tredel, "step, stair, sole of the foot," from a root meaning "to tread."

Definitions of treadle

1. noun

   a lever that is operated with the foot
   synonyms: foot lever, foot pedal, pedal

   types:

   accelerator, accelerator pedal, gas, gas pedal, gun, throttle

   a pedal that controls the throttle valve

   brake pedal

   foot pedal that moves a piston in the master brake cylinder

   clutch, clutch pedal

   a pedal or lever that engages or disengages a rotating shaft and a driving mechanism

   soft pedal

   a pedal on a piano that moves the action closer to the strings and so soften the sound

   loud pedal, sustaining pedal

   a pedal on a piano that lifts the dampers from the strings and so allows them to continue vibrating

   type of:

   lever

   a rigid bar pivoted about a fulcrum
2. verb

   operate (machinery) by a treadle
   type of:

   control, operate

   handle and cause to function
3. verb

   tread over
   “the brick maker treadles over clay to pick out the stones”

   type of:

   trample, tread

   tread or stomp heavily or roughly