darning needle

darning needle
    n 1: a long needle with an eye large enough for heavy darning or
         embroidery thread [syn: {darning needle}, {embroidery
         needle}]
    2: slender-bodied non-stinging insect having iridescent wings
       that are outspread at rest; adults and nymphs feed on
       mosquitoes etc. [syn: {dragonfly}, {darning needle}, {devil's
       darning needle}, {sewing needle}, {snake feeder}, {snake
       doctor}, {mosquito hawk}, {skeeter hawk}]
    

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.
   [1913 Webster]

         He spent every day ten hours in his closet, in darning
         his stockings.                           --Swift.
   [1913 Webster]

   {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}.
         [1913 Webster]