Bodkin needle

Late medieval silver bodkin, rectangular in section, with two eyelets and three circular holes, England. Now in Museum of London. Late medieval silver bodkin, rectangular in section, with two eyelets and three circular holes, England. Now in Museum of London.

A bodkin is a thick, medium length needle of between 4-6 cm in length, which has either a rounded and blunt, or a pointed end. This type of needle may be round (also called ballpoint) or flat in section (threader). It has a long, elongated eye. Some bodkins have two or more eyes.

Bodkins are used to thread cords, elastics, ribbons or tapes through pre-made holes and tubes in a cloth or a garment. They may also be used as hairpins. Bodkins can be made out of a wide range of materials, such as bone, metal, plastic, etc.

The modern English term bodkin derives from the Middle English word boedekyn, which may derive from the Celtic word biodag, meaning a dagger. 

Sources:

Digital source of illustration (retrieved 29 May 2016)

GVE

Last modified on Friday, 20 January 2017 22:08
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