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Damsel

An iron or wood, 3- or 4-sided spindle, terminating in a fork, crutch, or nut head, which is fitted vertically over the RHYND of an underdriven millstone; employed to agitate the SHOE thus feeding grain to the eye of the stones. Known as an agitator in northern counties. Those with three sides are known as three-beat damsels; those with four as four-beat damsels.

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Alternative terms

Term Language Region
babillard, claquet, frayon, battant m, quenouille, chandelle, 'toupie' f French
Dansil English
Dolly English
Four-Beat Damsel English
Knocker English County Durham
Mill Clapper or Clack English Somerset; Scotland
Mühlklapper f, Drei-, Vier¦schlag, Anschlag, ‘Tanzmeister’ m German
opzetspil, juffer Dutch
Rattler English
Three Beat Damsel English

See syntax and abbreviations used in the TIMS Dictionary definitions.
This work is generously supported by Stichting Steunfonds TIMS.

See also