STITCH

A single pass of a needle in sewing; the loop or turn of the thread thus made.

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.

A space of work taken up, or gone over, in a single pass of the needle; hence, by extension, any space passed over; distance. You have gone a good stitch. Bunyan. In Syria the husbandmen go lightly over with their plow, and take no deep stitch in making their furrows. Holland.

A local sharp pain; an acute pain, like the piercing of a needle; as, a stitch in the side. He was taken with a cold and with stitches, which was, indeed, a pleurisy. Bp. Burnet.

A contortion, or twist. [Obs.] If you talk, Or pull your face into a stitch again, I shall be angry. Marston.

Any least part of a fabric or dress; as, to wet every stitch of clothes. [Colloq.]

A furrow. Chapman. Chain stitch, Lock stitch. See in the Vocabulary. -- Pearl, or Purl stitch. See 2nd Purl, 2.

To form stitches in; especially, to sew in such a manner as to show on the surface a continuous line of stitches; as, to stitch a shirt bosom.

To sew, or unite together by stitches; as, to stitch printed sheets in making a book or a pamphlet.

To form land into ridges. To stitch up, to mend or unite with a needle and thread; as, to stitch up a rent; to stitch up an artery.

To practice stitching, or needlework.