darning last

Last \Last\, n. [AS. l[=a]st trace, track, footstep; akin to D.
   leest a last, G. leisten, Sw. l[aum]st, Dan. l[ae]st, Icel.
   leistr the foot below the ankle, Goth. laists track, way;
   from a root signifying, to go. Cf. {Last}, v. i., {Learn},
   {Delirium}.]
   A wooden block shaped like the human foot, on which boots and
   shoes are formed.
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         The cobbler is not to go beyond his last. --L'Estrange.
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   {Darning last}, a smooth, hard body, often egg-shaped, put
      into a stocking to preserve its shape in darning.
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Darn \Darn\ (d[aum]rn), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Darned}
   (d[aum]rnd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Darning}.] [OE. derne, prob. of
   Celtic origin; cf. W. darnio to piece, break in pieces, W. &
   Arm. to E. tear. Cf. {Tear}, v. t.]
   To mend as a rent or hole, with interlacing stitches of yarn
   or thread by means of a needle; to sew together with yarn or
   thread.
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         He spent every day ten hours in his closet, in darning
         his stockings.                           --Swift.
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   {Darning last}. See under {Last}.

   {Darning needle}.
   (a) A long, strong needle for mending holes or rents,
       especially in stockings.
   (b) (Zool.) Any species of dragon fly, having a long,
       cylindrical body, resembling a needle. These flies are
       harmless and without stings.

   Note: [In this sense, usually written with a hyphen.] Called
         also {devil's darning-needle}.
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