Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Thread \Thread\ (thr[e^]d), n. [OE. threed, [thorn]red, AS.
   [thorn]r[=ae]d; akin to D. draad, G. draht wire, thread, OHG.
   dr[=a]t, Icel. [thorn]r[=a][eth]r a thread, Sw. tr[*a]d, Dan.
   traad, and AS. [thorn]r[=a]wan to twist. See {Throw}, and cf.
   {Third}.]
   1. A very small twist of flax, wool, cotton, silk, or other
      fibrous substance, drawn out to considerable length; a
      compound cord consisting of two or more single yarns
      doubled, or joined together, and twisted.

   2. A filament, as of a flower, or of any fibrous substance,
      as of bark; also, a line of gold or silver.

   3. The prominent part of the spiral of a screw or nut; the
      rib. See {Screw}, n., 1.

   4. Fig.: Something continued in a long course or tenor; a,s
      the thread of life, or of a discourse. --Bp. Burnet.

   5. Fig.: Composition; quality; fineness. [Obs.]

            A neat courtier, Of a most elegant thread. --B.
                                                  Jonson.

   {Air thread}, the fine white filaments which are seen
      floating in the air in summer, the production of spiders;
      gossamer.

   {Thread and thrum}, the good and bad together. [Obs.] --Shak.

   {Thread cell} (Zo["o]l.), a lasso cell. See under {Lasso}.

   {Thread herring} (Zo["o]l.), the gizzard shad. See under
      {Gizzard}.

   {Thread lace}, lace made of linen thread.

   {Thread needle}, a game in which children stand in a row,
      joining hands, and in which the outer one, still holding
      his neighbor, runs between the others; -- called also
      {thread the needle}.