Shuttle

n. [A-S. sceátel, sceadhel, a weaver's shuttle, from sceótan, to shoot; Dan. skyttel, väver-skyttel, skytte, skyt, Sw. skyttel, Ger. schütze, schütz, schiessspule, D. schietspoel, from schiezen, schieten, to shoot, and spule, spoel, a spool, a quill. 1. An instrument used by weavers for passing or shooting the thread of the woof in weaving from one side of the cloth to the other, between the threads of the warp. Like shuttles through the loom, so swiftly glide My feathered hours. Sandys.

2. A shuttlecock.
3. A small gate or stop through which melted metal is allowed to pass from the trough to the mold. Simmonds.