纺字考

纺是将丝加工为纱线,是织的基础。纺字从丝从方,丝是纺的意义范畴,方为声兼意符。方有合并之意,纺的并若干根丝为纱线之意即从此出。而先秦文献中纺有下垂、悬吊之意,这种用法实由纺纱引申而来。在纺车出现以前,以纺轮纺线,丝线通过拈杆悬吊纺轮,搓动纺轮旋转,将数根丝合并在一起加捻成一股,成为供织造用的纱线。对纺字意义的考释有利于正确理解原始的纺织工具及使用方法。

Study on the Word Spin

The word spin means to make silk into yarn thread and it’s the basis of the twine.The word spin includes two parts of 丝 and 方,among which 丝 is the material of spin and 方 is the note and meaning of spin which means combination of silk.In Pre-Qin literature,the word spin had the meaning of drooping and hanging,which is actually come from spinning.Before the filature machine came into being,the spinning wheel was used to spin yarn i.e.silk thread was hanging on the wheel through twist levers and weavers made silk combine together into a yarn thread through the spinning wheel rotation.The yarn thread is prepared for weaving.The study on the meaning of the word spin can help people correctly understand the original textile tools and their use.