La"dle (?), n. [AS.
hlædel, fr. hladan to load, drain. See
Lade, v. t.] 1. A
cuplike spoon, often of large size, with a long handle, used in
lading or dipping.
When the materials of glass have been kept long in
fusion, the mixture casts up the superfluous salt, which the workmen
take off with ladles.
Boyle.
2. (Founding) A vessel to carry liquid
metal from the furnace to the mold.
3. The float of a mill wheel; -- called also
ladle board.
4. (Gun.) (a) An
instrument for drawing the charge of a cannon.
(b) A ring, with a handle or handles fitted to
it, for carrying shot.
Ladle wood (Bot.), the wood of a
South African tree (Cassine Colpoon), used for
carving.
La"dle (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Ladled (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Ladling (?).] To take up and convey in a ladle; to dip
with, or as with, a ladle; as, to ladle out soup; to
ladle oatmeal into a kettle.
