A looped cord or wire on a loom through which warp threads pass, used in weaving to separate and control the threads.
From Old English 'hedl' or 'hetl,' related to German 'Hechel' (hackle). The term refers to the heddle harness in weaving, an essential component of looms that dates back millennia.
Heddles are the invisible technology behind every woven fabric you own—they're what lets weavers create intricate patterns by selectively lifting groups of threads. Medieval weavers could manipulate hundreds of heddles to create complex designs.
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