From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Bobbin \Bob"bin\, n. [F. bobine; of uncertain origin; cf. L.
bombus a humming, from the noise it makes, or Ir. & Gael.
baban tassel, or E. bob.]
1. A small pin, or cylinder, formerly of bone, now most
commonly of wood, used in the making of pillow lace. Each
thread is wound on a separate bobbin which hangs down
holding the thread at a slight tension.
[1913 Webster]
2. A spool or reel of various material and construction, with
a head at one or both ends, and sometimes with a hole
bored through its length by which it may be placed on a
spindle or pivot. It is used to hold yarn or thread, as in
spinning or warping machines, looms, sewing machines, etc.
[1913 Webster]
3. The little rounded piece of wood, at the end of a latch
string, which is pulled to raise the latch.
[1913 Webster]
4. (Haberdashery) A fine cord or narrow braid.
[1913 Webster]
5. (Elec.) A cylindrical or spool-shaped coil or insulated
wire, usually containing a core of soft iron which becomes
magnetic when the wire is traversed by an electrical
current.
[1913 Webster]
{Bobbin and fly frame}, a roving machine.
{Bobbin lace}, lace made on a pillow with bobbins; pillow
lace.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
bobbin
n 1: a winder around which thread or tape or film or other
flexible materials can be wound [syn: {bobbin}, {spool},
{reel}]
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