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Spinning Jenny

Definition

The spinning jenny is a multi-spindle spinning frame that was one of the key developments in weaving during early Industrial Revolution. It dramatically increased production speed while reducing effort required by workers.

Analogy

Imagine if you could write with ten pens at once instead of just one - you'd finish your homework much faster! That's what happened when weavers started using the spinning jenny - they could spin multiple threads at once, speeding up production.

Related terms

Textile Industry: A sector that involves the design, production and distribution of yarn, cloth and clothing. The Spinning Jenny was a major innovation in this industry.

Industrial Revolution: The period of rapid industrial growth with far-reaching effects on society, during which the Spinning Jenny was invented.

James Hargreaves: The inventor of the Spinning Jenny.