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Definition of "treadle" [trea•dle]

  • A pedal or lever operated by the foot for circular drive, as in a potter's wheel or sewing machine. (noun)
  • To work a treadle. (verb-intransitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "treadle" in a sentence
  • "Cooper-Hewitt Receives 600K to Continue Design for the Other 90% Exhibit The treadle is a bamboo water pump powered by the human foot – Inhabitat about mission submit a story shop advertise with us support us press contact sign up"
  • "The treadle is a bamboo water pump powered by the human foot"
  • "We designed a range of affordable irrigation tools such as treadle pumps, and mass-marketed them to small-acreage farmers through the local private sector."