Rouet

Rouet is a French noun meaning a spinning wheel, the device used to twist and wind fibers into yarn. A typical rouet consists of a wheel connected by a drive mechanism to a spindle or flyer and a bobbin; by turning the wheel with the hand, fibers such as wool, flax, or cotton are drafted, twisted, and wound onto the bobbin to form thread. Historically, the rouet played a central role in domestic textile production and small-scale workshops, preceding industrial spinning technologies. It is part of the broader tradition of spinning wheels that spread across Europe and beyond.

Etymology and usage: The term rouet derives from Old French rouet, a diminutive of roue, meaning “wheel,” which in turn comes from Latin rota. The word has given rise to surnames in French-speaking regions. In contemporary French, rouet remains the standard term for a hand-spinning wheel used by hobbyists, artisans, and in educational contexts. The surname Rouet (without diacritics) is encountered in various Francophone countries.

Cultural and historical context: Spinning wheels like the rouet were integral to household economies before mechanized textile production, influencing gender roles, domestic labor, and small-scale craft traditions. Today, rouets are preserved in museums, used by modern spinners, and studied in textile history to understand pre-industrial fabrication methods.