treadwheel

Stepped rotating drum

A treadwheel is a large wheel turned by the weight of people or animals walking on steps around its rim or inside its drum.

Historically used to power machinery like cranes or mills, treadwheels were also instruments of prison punishment in 19th-century Britain—inmates walked for hours, grinding grain or pumping water.

Prisoners sentenced to hard labor spent their days on the treadwheel.

historical

prison

Confinement for offenders

penalRelating to punishment
VictorianOf a prim era
punishmentPenalty for an offense

incarceration · workhouse · correctional · convict · sentence · hardship · toil · drudgery · servitude · labor

mechanism

rotation

Turning on an axis

steppingMoving on foot
cylinderCircular-based solid form
axleShaft for wheel rotation

revolving · drum · slats · platform · cranking · turning · spindle · pedal · circular · belt

mill

gristmill

Building for grinding grain

grainCereal plant's harvest unit
flourMilled grain powder
grindingMolar action sometimes

millstone · watermill · corn · wheat · milling · meal · stoneground · husk · bran · hopper

power

crane

Lifter or wader

hoistRaise with tackle
winchDrum-and-cable lifting mechanism
liftMechanism for vertical transport

pulley · mechanical · construction · medieval · abbey · cathedral · load · rope · tackle · leverage

animal

donkey

Long-eared equine

oxCastrated male cattle
horseDomesticated riding animal
muleEquine hybrid, often sterile

beast · harness · yoke · draft · walking · plodding · hitched · driven · livestock · farm

treadwheel

prison

rotation

gristmill

crane

donkey

treadwheel

Opposites

Categories

Family