\Lathe\, n. [AS. l[=ae][eth]. Of. uncertain origin.]
Formerly, a part or division of a county among the
Anglo-Saxons. At present it consists of four or five
hundreds, and is confined to the county of Kent. [Written
also {lath}.] --Brande & C.

\Lathe\, n. [OE. lathe a granary; akin to G. lade a chest,
Icel. hla[eth]a a storehouse, barn; but cf. also Icel.
l["o][eth] a smith's lathe. Senses 2 and 3 are perh. of the
same origin as lathe a granary, the original meaning being, a
frame to hold something. If so, the word is from an older
form of E. lade to load. See {Lade} to load.]
1. A granary; a barn. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
2. (Mach.) A machine for turning, that is, for shaping
   articles of wood, metal, or other material, by causing
   them to revolve while acted upon by a cutting tool.
3. The movable swing frame of a loom, carrying the reed for
   separating the warp threads and beating up the weft; --
   called also {lay} and {batten}.
{Blanchard lathe}, a lathe for turning irregular forms after
   a given pattern, as lasts, gunstocks, and the like.
{Drill lathe}, or {Speed lathe}, a small lathe which, from
   its high speed, is adapted for drilling; a hand lathe.
{Engine lathe}, a turning lathe in which the cutting tool has
   an automatic feed; -- used chiefly for turning and boring
   metals, cutting screws, etc.
{Foot lathe}, a lathe which is driven by a treadle worked by
   the foot.
{Geometric lathe}. See under {Geometric}
{Hand lathe}, a lathe operated by hand; a power turning lathe
   without an automatic feed for the tool.
{Slide lathe}, an engine lathe.
{Throw lathe}, a small lathe worked by one hand, while the
   cutting tool is held in the other.