stitch en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- (General-American) audio
- /stɪt͡ʃ/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
- stĭch (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
From Middle English stiche, from Old English stiċe (“a prick, puncture, stab, thrust with a pointed implement, pricking sensation, stitch, pain in the side, sting”), from Proto-West Germanic *stiki, from Proto-Germanic *stikiz (“prick, piercing, stitch”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)teyg- (“to stab, pierce”). Cognate with Dutch steek (“prick, stitch”), German Stich (“a prick, piercing, stitch”), Old English stician (“to stick, stab, pierce, prick”). More at stick. Via PIE cognate with Czech steh, Polish ścieg, Russian стежо́к (stežók).
Meanings
- (countable) A single pass of a needle in sewing; the loop or turn of the thread thus made.
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(countable, uncountable) A single pass of a needle in sewing; the loop or turn of the thread thus made. ▸ A single pass of a surgical suture (to sew the edges of a wound together)
I cut myself badly while cooking and needed to go to hospital to get stitches.
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(countable, uncountable) An arrangement of stitches in sewing, or method of stitching in some particular way or style.
herringbone stitch
cross stitch
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(countable, uncountable) An intense stabbing pain under the lower edge of the ribcage, brought on by exercise or laughing.
After about fifteen minutes I got terrible stitch.
I've got a stitch. I'm going to have to stop and rest.
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(countable, uncountable) A local sharp pain (anywhere); an acute pain, like the piercing of a needle.
He was the next day taken with an oppreſſion, and as it ſeemed with a cold and with ſtitches, which was indeed a pluriſy.
a. 1716 (date written), [Gilbert] Burnet, “Book III. Of the Rest of King Charles II’s Reign, from the Year 1673 to the Year 1685, in which He Died.”, in [Gilbert Burnet Jr.], editor, Bishop Burnet’s History of His Own Time. […], volume I, London: […] Thomas Ward […], published 1724, →OCLC, page 588:Violent continuous stitch in the region of the heart, the stitches multiplied when arresting the breathing. […] Feeling of heaviness in the muscles of the neck; he is obliged to bend his neck backwards. Cramp-like pain in right muscles of the neck, terminating in a stitch; the pain went off after motion and returned afterwards. […] Dull stitches in the region of the haunch-bones; pressure on the parts causes a simple pain. […] Drawing stitch in the right thigh, not perceptible when standing or ascending an elevation.
1848, Gottlieb Heinrich Georg Jahr, New Manual; Or, Symptomen-codex, page 186 (1846, Samuel Hahnemann, Materia Medica Pura, page 73)A sharp stitch in the left side of the head, on sitting down […] A sharp stitch in the upper part of the right side of the head, […]
1878, Timothy Field Allen, The Encyclopedia of pure materia medica v. 8, 1878, page 291:a stitch in the side
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(countable, uncountable) A single turn of the thread round a needle in knitting; a link, or loop, of yarn
drop a stitch
take up a stitch
- (countable, uncountable) An arrangement of stitches in knitting, or method of knitting in some particular way or style.
- (countable, uncountable) A space of work taken up, or gone over, in a single pass of the needle.
- (countable, uncountable) A fastening, as of thread or wire, through the back of a book to connect the pages.
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(broadly, countable, uncountable) Any space passed over; distance.
[Y]ou have gone a good ſtitch, you may well be a weary; ſit down.
1684, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress. From This World to That which is to Come: The Second Part. […], London: […] Nathaniel Ponder […], →OCLC; reprinted in The Pilgrim’s Progress as Originally Published by John Bunyan: Being a Fac-simile Reproduction of the First Edition, London: Elliot Stock […], 1875, →OCLC, page 148:
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(colloquial, countable, uncountable) Any least part of a fabric or clothing.
"Why, it's you that are stripping me," replied the Ogress, "and you have not left a stitch on me." "Where the devil is the quilt?" says the Ogre[.]
1828, Thomas Keightley, Fairy Mythology, volume II, page 237:About DUNSTABLE they plow much in Stitches : and in Essex some very good Farmers practise this Method with very great Success; making five Stitches when they come to sow, which five make a Perch, so that between every two Stitches there is a Thorough a Foot wide.
1757, Thomas Hale, “Of Tillage”, in A compleat body of husbandry, page 241:[…]for your oxen choose Two males of nine years old, for then their use Is most available, since their strengths are then Not of the weakest, and the youthful mean Sticks in their nerves still; nor will these contend With skittish tricks, when they their stitch should end, To break their plough, and leave their work undone.
1875, George Chapman, Algernon Charles Swinburne, The Works of George Chapman: Poems and Minor Translations, page 224:She didn’t have a stitch (of clothing) on.
to wet every stitch of clothes
I would go out tonight / But I haven't got a stitch to wear
1983, “This Charming Man”, Johnny Marr, Morrissey (lyrics), performed by The Smiths:
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(countable, uncountable) An incorporation of an existing video into a new one, resulting in a collaborative clip that shows the two videos in a sequence.
The stitches, as they are called on TikTok, nearly always end in agreement that Ms. Vidal was right — store-bought pesto is indeed an inferior product.
2023 October 24, Remy Tumin, “She Made Pesto. People Started Spilling Their Secrets.”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 24 Oct 2023:One answer that appeared in multiple comments and stitches was that women often think about the possibility of being victims of violence.
2023 September 20, Brittany Miller, “Women respond to viral TikTok prompt asking about ‘female version’ of male Roman Empire obsession”, in The Independent, London: Independent News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 23 Sep 2023:More than 19,000 people commented, along with more stitches than she could count, Sallee said.
2023 May 31, Tatum Hunter, “On TikTok, women get real about the pitfalls of motherhood”, in The Washington Post, Washington, D.C.: The Washington Post Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 03 Jun 2023:
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(countable, dated, uncountable) A ridge of ploughed land between two furrows.
Now plow down your Weat-stitches, by running the Two-wheel Fallow-Plough three or four times through each Stitch, which will almost level the Ground;
1750, William Ellis, “Of Plowings preparatory for Sofing Lent Crops of Grain, &c. in Chilturn Grounds”, in The Modern Husbandman - Volume 4, page 42:
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(countable, obsolete, uncountable) A contortion, or twist.
If you talke / Or pull your face into a ſtich againe, / As I love truth I ſhall be very angry.
1609–1612, Francis Beaumont, John Fletcher, “The Captaine”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647, →OCLC, Act II, scene ii, page 54, column 2:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| stich | alternative, misspelling, obsolete | lexicographic | |
| stitches | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
honeycomb stitch · stitchcraft · overstitch · couching stitch · topstitch · featherstitch · blanket stitch · stitchery · long and short stitch · pearl stitch · pick stitch · blanket-stitch · wheatear stitch · stitchlike · drop a stitch · coverstitch · butterfly stitch · satin stitch · misstitch · moss stitch · raccroc stitch · in stitches · through-stitch · blind stitch · take up a stitch · fell stitch · stabstitch · herringbone stitch · catchstitch · coral stitch · dip stitch · rope stitch · fancy stitch · Flemish stitch · Russian stitch · kettle stitch · slip stitch · stitch drilling · shadow stitch · ladder stitch · stitchless · bread-stitch · snitches get stitches and wind up in ditches · straight stitch · wholestitch · cross-stitch · stockinette stitch · daddy stitch · stab stitch · stitchwork · bean stitch · husband stitch · lockstitch · pad stitch · husband's stitch · hemstitch · backstitch · counted cross-stitch · Comanche stitch · whipstitch · a stitch in time saves nine · saddle stitch · slipstitch · buttonhole stitch · draw stitch · spider stitch · stitch-up · Holbein stitch · wheel stitch · rib stitch · cable stitch · understitch · snitches get stitches · couch stitch · box stitch · stitch-back · rice stitch · interstitch · chain stitch · thorough-stitch · brick stitch · running stitch · stocking stitch · brede-stitch · staystitch · lock stitch · side stitch · stitchwort · stitchback · purl stitch · edgestitch · pick up stitches · garter stitch · whip stitch · split stitch · Kitchener stitch · tent stitch · seed stitch · stitch in the ditch · stem stitch
Translations (131)
mk пе́телка (single turn of the thread in knitting) · it maglia (single turn of the thread in knitting) · vi mũi khâu (single pass of the needle in sewing) · mk бод (single pass of the needle in sewing) · fa کوک (single pass of the needle in sewing) · de Stechen (local sharp pain) · gv whaaley (single turn of the thread in knitting) · de Stich (single pass of the needle in sewing) · pl splot (arrangement of stitches or method of stitching in knitting) · fi kudos (arrangement of stitches or method of stitching in knitting) · bg бод (single pass of the needle in sewing) · fi silmukka (single turn of the thread in knitting) · pt ponto (arrangement of stitches or method of stitching in knitting) · es punto (single turn of the thread in knitting) · sv maska (single turn of the thread in knitting) · ga tointe (colloquial: any least part of a fabric or dress) · it punto (single pass of the needle in sewing) · es punto (single pass of the needle in sewing) · gv whaaley (arrangement of stitches or method of stitching in knitting) · bo ཚེམ་བུ (single pass of the needle in sewing) · cmn 岔氣 /岔气 (an intense stabbing pain under the lower edge of the ribcage) · mk бо́дење (an intense stabbing pain under the lower edge of the ribcage) · fr point (single turn of the thread in knitting) · el σουβλιά (local sharp pain) · el σφάχτης (an intense stabbing pain under the lower edge of the ribcage) · de Seitenstechen (an intense stabbing pain under the lower edge of the ribcage) · da stik (local sharp pain) · ta தையல் (single pass of the needle in sewing) · da sting (single pass of the needle in sewing) · it punto (single turn of the thread in knitting) · pt pontada (local sharp pain) · kmr kêl (single pass of the needle in sewing) · az tikiş (single pass of the needle in sewing) · ota دیكیش (single pass of the needle in sewing) · pl kolka (an intense stabbing pain under the lower edge of the ribcage) · bg шев (single pass of the needle in sewing) · mi pākini (an intense stabbing pain under the lower edge of the ribcage) · pdt Stäakj (an intense stabbing pain under the lower edge of the ribcage) · enm stiche (an intense stabbing pain under the lower edge of the ribcage) · hu öltés (single pass of the needle in sewing) · gl punto (an intense stabbing pain under the lower edge of the ribcage) · sv stickning (arrangement of stitches or method of stitching in knitting) · pl ścieg (single pass of the needle in sewing) · gl punto (single turn of the thread in knitting) · tr dikiş (single pass of the needle in sewing) · el ραφή (arrangement of stitches or method of stitching in sewing) · gl costura (arrangement of stitches or method of stitching in sewing) · gl puntada (single pass of the needle in sewing) · gv lhoob (arrangement of stitches or method of stitching in knitting) · hy հատ (single pass of the needle in sewing) · es punzada (an intense stabbing pain under the lower edge of the ribcage) · ru петля́ (single pass of the needle in sewing) · nl zijsteek (an intense stabbing pain under the lower edge of the ribcage) · nrf ahan dans l'côté (an intense stabbing pain under the lower edge of the ribcage) · ca punt (single pass of the needle in sewing) · ru стежо́к (single pass of the needle in sewing) · de Strickmuster (arrangement of stitches or method of stitching in knitting) · gd lùb (single turn of the thread in knitting) · bg бримка (single turn of the thread in knitting) · ru пе́тля (single pass of the needle in sewing) · el βελονιά (single pass of the needle in sewing) · es punzada (local sharp pain) · ary غرْزة (single pass of the needle in sewing) · fr point de côté (an intense stabbing pain under the lower edge of the ribcage) · fr maille (single turn of the thread in knitting) · da maske (single turn of the thread in knitting) · de Masche (single turn of the thread in knitting) · mi tuinga (single pass of the needle in sewing) · mk пле́тка (arrangement of stitches or method of stitching in knitting) · bg плетка (arrangement of stitches or method of stitching in knitting) · pt pontada (an intense stabbing pain under the lower edge of the ribcage) · kmr dirwar (single pass of the needle in sewing) · la sūtūra (arrangement of stitches or method of stitching in sewing) · fi pisto (single pass of the needle in sewing) · gl punto (arrangement of stitches or method of stitching in knitting) · da sidesting (an intense stabbing pain under the lower edge of the ribcage) · ga greim (single pass of the needle in sewing) · fi tikki (single pass of the needle in sewing) · cs steh (single pass of the needle in sewing) · sv håll (an intense stabbing pain under the lower edge of the ribcage) · ga luid (colloquial: any least part of a fabric or dress) · fi ommel (arrangement of stitches or method of stitching in sewing) · hu szem (single turn of the thread in knitting) · ar غَرَزَة (single pass of the needle in sewing) · enm stiche (single pass of the needle in sewing) · bg шев (arrangement of stitches or method of stitching in sewing) · fr crampe (local sharp pain) · sv mjälthugg (an intense stabbing pain under the lower edge of the ribcage) · it fitta (an intense stabbing pain under the lower edge of the ribcage) · fr fringue (colloquial: any least part of a fabric or dress) · sdh تەقەڵ (single pass of the needle in sewing) · pt ponto (single pass of the needle in sewing) · vo näg (single pass of the needle in sewing) · el πλέξη (arrangement of stitches or method of stitching in knitting) · tr dikiş (arrangement of stitches or method of stitching in sewing) · gv lhoob (arrangement of stitches or method of stitching in sewing) · gv lhoob (single pass of the needle in sewing) · te కుట్టు (single pass of the needle in sewing) · ckb تەقەڵ (single pass of the needle in sewing) · el πόντος (single turn of the thread in knitting) · hy օղակ (single pass of the needle in sewing) · pl ścieg (arrangement of stitches or method of stitching in sewing) · gv whaaley (arrangement of stitches or method of stitching in sewing) · gv lhoob (single turn of the thread in knitting) · sv tråd (colloquial: any least part of a fabric or dress) · gv whaaley (single pass of the needle in sewing) · sv stygn (single pass of the needle in sewing) · es puntada (single pass of the needle in sewing) · fi pistos (local sharp pain) · uk стібо́к (single pass of the needle in sewing) · nl steek (single pass of the needle in sewing) · cs steh (arrangement of stitches or method of stitching in sewing) · bg пробождане (an intense stabbing pain under the lower edge of the ribcage) · hi सिलाई (single pass of the needle in sewing) · sv söm (arrangement of stitches or method of stitching in sewing) · de Stich (arrangement of stitches or method of stitching in sewing) · gl punto (arrangement of stitches or method of stitching in sewing) · ru петля (single turn of the thread in knitting) · mk шев (arrangement of stitches or method of stitching in sewing) · fi pistos (an intense stabbing pain under the lower edge of the ribcage) · pl ścieg (arrangement of stitches or method of stitching in knitting) · da sidestik (an intense stabbing pain under the lower edge of the ribcage) · cmn 缝针 (single pass of the needle in sewing) · ru резь (local sharp pain) · az tikiş (arrangement of stitches or method of stitching in sewing) · fr point (single pass of the needle in sewing) · ga arraing (local sharp pain) · pl oczko (single turn of the thread in knitting) · es dolor en el costado (an intense stabbing pain under the lower edge of the ribcage) · wa pont (single pass of the needle in sewing) · io sutuno (single pass of the needle in sewing)