Just for info:
The term needle bearing does generally refer to roller bearings with long, skinny rollers. I don't know where the term came from, but I expect it has to do with the fact that The Torrington Company, who invented the drawn cup needle bearing (a story in itself), started out as the Excelsior Needle Company, making, you guessed it, sewing machine needles. Their expertise in forming wire, heat treating, etc., led them into making needle rollers, and from there, into the bearing buisness big time.