darning

[ dahr-ning ]

/ ˈdɑr nɪŋ /

noun

the act of a person or thing that darns.

the result produced.

articles darned or to be darned.

RELATED WORDS

doggone, dang, cripes, darnation, drat

Nearby words

Origin of darning

First recorded in 1605–15; darn¹ + -ing¹

darn

[ dahrn ]

/ dɑrn /

verb (used with object)

to mend, as torn clothing, with rows of stitches, sometimes by crossing and interweaving rows to span a gap.

noun

a darned place, as in a garment: an old sock full of darns.

Origin of darn

1590–1600; perhaps to be identified with Middle English dernen to keep secret, conceal, Old English (Anglian) dernan

SYNONYMS FOR darn

1. See mend.

darn

[ dahrn ]

/ dɑrn /

Informal.

adjective, adverb

darned.

verb (used with object)

to curse; damn: Darn that pesky fly!

Origin of darn

First recorded in 1775–85; see origin at darned

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for darning

I saw Mitt Romney darning his socks in the night when there's nobody there, what does he care?
I Dreamed I Saw Mitt Romney Last Night, Alive as You and Me|Michael Tomasky|December 12, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Around it are Michael Myers, darning his mask in preparation for the forthcoming Halloween 2.
Who Killed the Horror Film?|Tom Shone|March 13, 2009|DAILY BEAST
With a darning needle threaded with blue cotton or silk the mattress can be tufted here and there.
The Child's Rainy Day Book|Mary White
Darning should never be commenced with a knot, nor finished with a back stitch.
Textiles and Clothing|Kate Heintz Watson

Thread for darning should be as near as possible the size of the threads in the garment.
Textiles and Clothing|Kate Heintz Watson
The third example shows the darning stitch forming a diamond pattern.
Embroidery and Tapestry Weaving|Grace Christie
Now come you in out of the way of the wind, Debby; you know how your back-sinew ached with the darning before last wash.
Mary Anerley|R. D. Blackmore

British Dictionary definitions for darning

darn

/ (dɑːn) /

verb

to mend (a hole or a garment) with a series of crossing or interwoven stitches

noun

a patch of darned work on a garment

the process or act of darning

Derived Formsdarner, noundarning, noun

Word Origin for darn

C16: probably from French (Channel Islands dialect) darner; compare Welsh, Breton darn piece

darn

/ (dɑːn) /

interjection, adjective, adverb, noun

a euphemistic word for damn (def. 1), damn (def. 2), damn (def. 4), damn (def. 4), damn (def. 15)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for darning

darn

"to mend" c.1600, perhaps from Middle French darner "mend," from darne "piece," from Breton darn "piece, fragment, part." Alternative etymology is from obsolete dern (see dern). Related: Darned; darning.

darn

interj.

tame curse word, 1781, American English euphemism for damn, said to have originated in New England when swearing was a punishable offense; if so, its spread was probably influenced by 'tarnal, short for Eternal, as in By the Eternal (God), favorite exclamation of Andrew Jackson, among others. Related: darned (past participle adjective, 1806); darndest (superlative, 1844).