spindle, n.¹ — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

spindle n.¹

1. the penis.

1533		J. Heywood Play of Weather in Farmer Dramatic Writings (1905) 108: Our hopper, our extre, our iron spindle, / In this and much more so great is our charge.
c.1625		Webster Cure for a Cuckold III ii: What tho your husband lent my wife your distaff, shall not the yarn be mine? He have the head, let him carry the spindle home agen.
1659		Greene & Lodge Lady Alimony IV iii: Poor Ladies how we dwindle! Who can spin without a Spindle?
1697		Art of Cuckoldom in C.C. Mish Restoration Prose Fiction (1970) 195: If I understand a Spindle from a Wheel, or a Pestle from a Mortar [...] I tell you once more, this impudent She Cozen of yours, is a downright he Rogue, Madam.
c.1707		‘Bonny Peggy Ramsey’ in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) II 152: The spindle it was hardy, and the steanes were they well pickt.
1719		in D’Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy V 140: The spindle it was hardy, and the steanes were they well pickt.
c.1790		‘The Munster-Man’s Bothabue’ Luke Caffrey’s Gost 3: For my Tugs are out of order and my Spindle does not go free.
1888–94		‘Walter’ My Secret Life (1966) VIII 1559: The split and the spindle shewed the difference in the sexes.
1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.

2. a (thin) leg.

1709		R. Steele Tatler No. 83 n.p.: How I am mortify’d when he is putting on my fourth Pair of Stockings on these poor Spindles of mine?
[1830		W. Carleton ‘Battle of the Factions’ Traits and Stories of Irish Peasantry (1868) I 119: They exchanged two shots, one only of which [...] pastured upon their landlord’s spindle leg].
1834		Albany Microscope (NY) 17 May n.p.: Cuff.— Him bery good leg, massa; radder tin do. Golly, massa, I hear dem call um spindle.
1838		R.S. Surtees Jorrocks Jaunts (1874) 12: A style that would insure him rotatory occupation at Brixton for his spindles.
1900		Marvel XIII:324 Feb. 2: Shift yer spindles quick, gents.

make crooked spindles (v.) (also spin crooked spindles) [the abandonment of proper wifely tasks]

of a woman, to commit adultery, to cuckold one’s husband.

1598

Florio Worlde of Wordes n.p.: A woman that makes or spins crooked spindles, that is, maketh her husband cuckold.