stitch Meaning, Definition & Usage

Stitch noun

Etymology

OE. stiche, AS. stice a pricking, akin to stician to prick. See Stick, v. i.

Definitions

1. A single pass of a needle in sewing; the loop or turn of the thread thus made.
2. A single turn of the thread round a needle in knitting; a link, or loop, of yarn; as, to let down, or drop, a stitch; to take up a stitch.
3. Cf. OE. sticche, stecche, stucche, a piece, AS. stycce. Cf. Stock. A space of work taken up, or gone over, in a single pass of the needle; hence, by extension, any space passed over; distance.

   You have gone a good stitch. Bunyan.

   In Syria the husbandmen go lightly over with their plow, and take no deep stitch in making their furrows. Holland.

4. A local sharp pain; an acute pain, like the piercing of a needle; as, a stitch in the side.

   He was taken with a cold and with stitches, which was, indeed, a pleurisy. Bp. Burnet.

5. A contortion, or twist. Obs.

   If you talk, Or pull your face into a stitch again, I shall be angry. Marston.

6. Any least part of a fabric or dress; as, to wet every stitch of clothes. Colloq.
7. A furrow. Chapman.

Stitch transitive verb

Wordforms

imperfect & past participle Stitched ; present participle & verbal noun Stitching

Definitions

1. To form stitches in; especially, to sew in such a manner as to show on the surface a continuous line of stitches; as, to stitch a shirt bosom.
2. To sew, or unite together by stitches; as, to stitch printed sheets in making a book or a pamphlet.
3. (Agric.) To form land into ridges.

Stitch intransitive verb

Definitions

1. To practice stitching, or needlework.