treadle

From Middle English tredel, from Old English tredel; equivalent to tread +‎ -le.

• IPA^(key): /ˈtɹɛdl̩/

• Audio (Southern England)

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• Rhymes: -ɛdəl

treadle (plural treadles)

1. A foot-operated pedal or lever that generates motion.
   • 1960 March, G. Freeman Allen, “Europe's most luxurious express - the "Settebello"”, in Trains Illustrated, page 141:

     There is an inconspicuous treadle let into the floor and when you step on it an air-operated door-opening mechanism is automatically activated; [...].

2. A device actuated by wheels passing over it.
   • 1962 July, “Talking of Trains: Automatic car park at Harlow”, in Modern Railways, pages 11–12:

     As a car enters the parking area the front wheels pass over a treadle, causing a timber barrier to lift and allow the motorist to drive in and park. No money is required at this stage. As the car passes over a second treadle, just beyond the entrance, the barrier falls again.

3. (biology) Chalaza.

treadle (third-person singular simple present treadles, present participle treadling, simple past and past participle treadled)

1. (intransitive) To use a treadle.

• Aldrete, alerted, altered, redealt, related