I. ˈspül noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English spole, spule, from Middle French or Middle Dutch; Middle French espole, from Old French, from Middle Dutch spoele; akin to Old High German spuola spool, bobbin, and probably to Old English speld thin piece of wood used as a torch — more at spell
1.
a. : any of several cylindrical devices which have a rim, ridge, or head at each end and commonly an axial hole for a pin or spindle and on which filamentary or ribbonlike material (as thread, yarn, ribbon, wire, cord, tape) is wound: as
(1) : a small usually wooden cylinder for holding sewing thread
(2) : bobbin
(3) : a holder for a field coil
(4) : a holder on which sensitized photographic film or paper is wound especially for use in a camera
(5) : a holder for the ribbon of a typewriter or similar machine
(6) : the part of a fishing reel upon which the line is wound
b. : something (as a capstan barrel) resembling or likened to such a spool
2. : the material or the amount of material wound on a spool
an hour-long spool and … all the missing speeches … were recorded on it — Clemence Dane
two spools were needed to do the stitching
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
1. : to wind on a spool
film is spooled for use — R.N.Shreve
skein yarns are spooled — Leavers Lace
2. : wind
spool the rope on the drum
spool the thread off the bobbin
intransitive verb
1. : to wind itself on a spool
cause the cable to spool properly — advt
2. : wind
permitting the drilling line to spool off the drum — Primer of Oil Well Drilling