niddy-noddy

noun

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

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Meanings

nounniddy-noddy (plural niddy-noddies)

plural niddy-noddies

  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°.

Origin

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

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Czech motovidlo
  • motovidloa tool to make skeins from yarn
Dutch handhaspel
  • handhaspela tool to make skeins from yarn
Finnish viipsinpuu
  • viipsinpuua tool to make skeins from yarn
French dévidoir à main
  • dévidoir à maina tool to make skeins from yarn
German Kreuzhaspel, Nicker
  • Kreuzhaspela tool to make skeins from yarn
  • Nickera tool to make skeins from yarn
Italian aspo
  • aspoa tool to make skeins from yarn
Norwegian hespetre
  • hespetrea tool to make skeins from yarn
Polish motowidło
  • motowidłoa tool to make skeins from yarn
Slovak motovidlo
  • motovidloa tool to make skeins from yarn
Spanish aspa
  • aspaa tool to make skeins from yarn
Swedish härva
  • härvaa tool to make skeins from yarn
Welsh ystyllen ddirwyn
  • ystyllen ddirwyna tool to make skeins from yarn
Cite this entry
APA

niddy-noddy. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/niddy-noddy

MLA

“niddy-noddy.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/niddy-noddy. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “niddy-noddy,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/niddy-noddy.

Source: niddy-noddy on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.