Pronunciation: [hˈɛdə͡l] (IPA) 
The word "Heddle" is spelled with two d's, despite the fact that it is pronounced as if it only had one. The IPA phonetic transcription for "Heddle" is /ˈhɛdəl/. The "dd" spelling of the word is due to its Middle English origins, when it was spelled as "hedeles." Over time, the second "e" was dropped and the spelling was simplified to "hedles." Eventually, the second "l" was also dropped, leaving us with the spelling we use today.
A heddle is an essential component in the weaving process, particularly in handloom weaving. It is a thin, flat, and typically looped device made from various materials such as wire or string. Heddles are attached to a loom's harness and form a vital part of the shedding mechanism.
The shedding mechanism in weaving allows for the separation of warp yarns, creating a temporary space through which the weft can be passed. The heddles play a crucial role in achieving this by controlling the individual warp threads. They are threaded through the heddle eyes or slots, with each thread passing through a separate heddle. These heddles are attached to a frame or a harness, typically in pairs known as shafts.
When the weaver manipulates the treadles or foot pedals, the corresponding harnesses or shafts rise or lower. This action raises or lowers certain heddles, creating an opening or shed between the warp yarns. The weaver then passes the weft yarn through this shed, forming the cloth.
Heddles can vary in design, with traditional looms often employing individual, string-like heddles. Modern industrial looms, on the other hand, might use wire heddles with flattened eyes or even metal heddles with inbuilt eyelets.
Overall, heddles are an integral part of the weaving process, allowing weavers to control and manipulate the warp yarns to create intricate patterns and designs in the woven fabric.
In weaving, the meshes of twine by which the warp is alternately raised and depressed for the passage of the weft.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "heddle" is derived from the Old English "hædel", which means a warp thread or a string used in weaving. It can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic root "hadulaz" or "hethla", which similarly referred to the thread used in weaving. This word likely has its origins in the Proto-Indo-European root "*ked-" or "*kad-", meaning to tie or make fast, ultimately linking it to the concept of weaving. The term "heddle" specifically refers to a device used in weaving to separate warp threads, facilitating the interlacing of weft threads during the process.
