Dictionary

dining needle en · NOUN

Etymology

A misconstrual of darning needle (“dragonfly”).

Meanings

1. (alt-of, alternative, colloquial, rare) Alternative form of darning needle; a dragonfly.
   alt of darning needle
   • Words for dragonfly in the Eastern States include darning needle, mosquito hawk, spindle, snake feeder, snake doctor and snake waiter, but of these only darning needle is used in New York. From darning needle, however, New York has developed two new variants dining needle and diamond needle. 2013, Janet Holmes, An Introduction to Sociolinguistics, →ISBN:
   • A dining needle went by as he fluttered his many wings. 2007, Harvey Rothenstein, The Big Picture and the Adventures of Life, →ISBN, page 47:

Forms