treadwheel
treadwheel Lexical Profile
treadwheel Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A large wheel or cylinder turned by the weight of people or animals treading on steps fitted to its inner or outer rim, historically used to power machinery, hoist heavy loads, or serve as a form of penal hard labor.
"Medieval stonemasons used a massive wooden treadwheel crane to hoist heavy limestone blocks to the top of the cathedral walls."
A small rotating wheel placed inside a cage for a pet rodent, such as a hamster or gerbil, to run inside for exercise.
"The hamster spent most of the night running energetically on its plastic treadwheel."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the 18th century as a compound of 'tread' (from Old English 'tredan', meaning to step upon) and 'wheel' (from Old English 'hweol'). It originally referred to large wooden wheels turned by human or animal footsteps to power cranes, pumps, and mills, and was later adopted in the early 19th century for penal hard-labor machines.