SPINNING, in commerce, the art or art of reducing silk, flax, hemp, wool, hair, or other matters, into thread. Spinning is either performed on the wheel with a distaff and spindle, or with other machines proper for the several kinds of working. Hemp, flax, nettle-thread, and the like vegetable matters, are to be wetted in spinning; silks, wools, &c. are to be spun dry, and do not need water; but there is a way of spinning silk as it comes off the cases or balls, where hot and even boiling water is to be used. See the articles SILK, THREAD, &c.