clew
9.9
A ball of yarn or thread that you can unwind
- noun
- /kluː/
- Archaic
:
ovillo
- He carefully unwound the clew of yarn before starting his knitting project.
Examples
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The OED says "clew" originally meant a ball formed by rolling pieces together, as in a ball of yarn or twine.
Blog text (20) -
The little girl played with a bright red clew of thread, happily tangling it around her fingers.
-
After losing track of the clew, the cat joyfully chased the ball of yarn across the living room.
Synonyms
ball of yarn
vsclew
3
1.0
A round mass of yarn made for knitting or crocheting
is similar but can be any thread or cord that can be unwound
How Tight
clew
- Archaic
skein
6
8.8
6
8.8
Surface Forms
Etymology
Clew as a noun can mean a 'ball of yarn' or thread that you can pull from and unwind, like a small bundle that gives out a long line. That practical picture explains why a clew was also a tool for finding a way or starting a project.