Spindle clarification

Remember a few days ago there was a posting about what the British equivalent of a spindle was? Well, it seems my first impression or first-and-a-half (because after reading the definitions Diplo_Dad posted from wikipedia about what a spindle was, I turned to the metal stick where you push papers on it - posted a picture and all; but originally I was thinking on the lines of this clarification. I think this does a little bit of clarification but suffice it to say how a 5-year-old would come up with a statement like "Be careful of the spindle or it will cut your fingers off." is kind of beeyond me - lol. Leave it to kids. So now we have the "word" spindle solved. Go read the enjoyable post over at Diplo_Dad's blog and enjoy the entertainment. Mrs. E :)

Spindle - what is it in Britain?

I've been following a stay-at-home father's blog, Diplo_Dad, who is living in the United Kingdom. He posted an interesting thing about something his 5-year-old son repeated from what the teacher said. Now when I saw the word, my mind went directly to this image (which by the definitions he found in a wikipedia article, this is what he is associating the word with):

So if a teacher says, “Don’t stick your fingers in the spindle, or they will be cut off,” one would not expect the image of this to be what a spindle is.

So I ask you all - what would you think a spindle is in British terms? What is the American version of said spindle? Something that could cut your fingers off if you so happened to get them caught in in it? If anyone finds out what the equivalent of a spindle is, please let me know, or pop over to Diplo_Dad's blog and let him know - E :)