Throstle \Thros"tle\, n. [OE. throsel, AS. [thorn]rostle, [thorn]rosle; akin to MHG. trostel, G. drossel, Icel. [thorn]r["o]str, Sw. trast, Lith. strazdas, L. turdus. [root]238. Cf. Thrush the bird.]

1. (Zo["o]l.) The song thrush. See under Song.

2. A machine for spinning wool, cotton, etc., from the rove, consisting of a set of drawing rollers with bobbins and flyers, and differing from the mule in having the twisting apparatus stationary and the processes continuous; -- so called because it makes a singing noise.

Throstle cock, the missel thrush. [Prov. Eng.]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)