(1) A cam or balance wheel on a shaft or spindle for spinning yarn or thread from wool, cotton, or other material; usually made of clay; (2) a weight attached to the end of a spindle to facilitate manipulation of the thread in spinning
"I always use a spindle whorl to help weight down my wool strands; it makes it easier to spin yarn for my knitting and weaving," said the weaver to her customers at the farmer's market.
by Aviva Gabriel October 28, 2007