What's the spin on "to spin"?

[Paul McFedries]

Today's Word Spy word is "Zen spin", which I defined simply as "To spin
a story by not doing any spinning at all." I found it in George
Stephanopoulos' fun book "All Too Human." (He also provided me with a
citation for the term "tick-tock": "A news story that recounts events in
chronological order.")

This got me thinking about the verb "to spin." While waiting for the
RHHDAS Volume III to come out, can someone shed some light on the
origins of this verb? (Or point me to a source of light.)

Thanks a bunch.

Paul

paul at mcfedries.com
Books: http://www.mcfedries.com/books/
Word Spy: http://www.logophilia.com/WordSpy/