waxed end

plural waxed ends · alternative wax end · alternative wax-end

1. shoemakingA thread of various filaments, usually pointed with a bristle and covered with shoemaker's wax, used in sewing leather, as for making or repairing footwears.

   He had a boot in his left hand, and, in his right, what cobblers call a wax end. He seemed very seriously at work on that boot.

   1939, Frank Richards, The Magnet: Loder Looks for Trouble

   2 more examples

   Simeon took a rough waxed-end, and placing it around his finger proceeded to attach a bristle to it. "You see," said Simeon, "it is not such a very difficult thing to do. You have only to pay attention."

   1892, Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy, translated by Adolphus Norraikow, Life Is Worth Living

   Uncle Boley worked at the seam until he had used up the thread in the leather, then took the extra waxed-end out of his mouth and put the boot aside. He took up one of the crippled shoes, turned it, examined it, as if he had come across some curiosity in the shoemaker's art.

   1924, George Washington Ogden, s:The Trail Rider, Chapter 1