ˈtread-wheel, n.
[f. tread v. + wheel n.]
A wheel rotated by the treading of persons or animals to give motion to machinery, to pump, or raise water, etc.; esp. a wheel turned by the weight of a person or animal walking forward on the inside of its periphery; also, = treadmill.
| c 1573 Lansdowne MS. 101, lf. 81 The Trade Whele where uppon men or horse stondyth. 1629 Patent Specif. (1856) No. 48. 1 An engine..which goeth downe to the bottome..of the Worke where it is to be used either by a Treadwheele meanes, hands [etc.]. 1660 R. D'acres Art Water-drawing 12 Certain great hollow wheels, hanging perpendicularly, in which men tread (called by some tread-wheels) not unlike unto a dog in a spit-wheel. 1799 Specif. Hardie's Patent No. 2300 The steps..serve for the men to mount upon or dismount from the tread wheel. 1822 Gentl. Mag. July 9 A party of prisoners..working one of the Tread-wheels of the Discipline Mill, invented by Mr. Cubitt. 1839 I. Taylor Anc. Chr. I. iii. 362 Ascetics..wasting themselves to skeletons on the treadwheel of their devout taskwork. |
Hence ˈtread-wheel v., trans. to inflict the discipline of the treadmill upon; whence ˈtread-wheeling vbl. n.
| 1831 Lincoln Herald 7 Oct. 4 Let these officials moderate their..fines, and treadwheeling. |