from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Stitch \Stitch\, n. [OE. stiche, AS. stice a pricking, akin to
stician to prick. See {Stick}, v. i.]
1. A single pass of a needle in sewing; the loop or turn of
the thread thus made.
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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.
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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.
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You have gone a good stitch. --Bunyan.
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In Syria the husbandmen go lightly over with their
plow, and take no deep stitch in making their
furrows. --Holland.
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4. A local sharp pain; an acute pain, like the piercing of a
needle; as, a stitch in the side.
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He was taken with a cold and with stitches, which
was, indeed, a pleurisy. --Bp. Burnet.
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5. A contortion, or twist. [Obs.]
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If you talk,
Or pull your face into a stitch again,
I shall be angry. --Marston.
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6. Any least part of a fabric or dress; as, to wet every
stitch of clothes. [Colloq.]
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7. A furrow. --Chapman.
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8. An arrangement of stitches, or method of stitching in some
particular way or style; as, cross-stitch; herringbone
stitch, etc.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
{Chain stitch}, {Lock stitch}. See in the Vocabulary.
{Pearl stitch}, or {Purl stitch}. See 2nd {Purl}, 2.
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