knitting needle

American  

[nit-ing need-l] / ˈnɪt ɪŋ ˌnid l /

noun

Knitting.

1. either of two types of instruments used for hand knitting: a straight rod of steel, wood, plastic, etc., pointed at one or both ends, used in pairs, or a single curved, flexible rod with two pointed ends.

2. any of various needlelike devices used in machine knitting.

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Etymology

Origin of knitting needle

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

"It was the knitting needle I brought back from my parents' house. It was also that when I finally miscarried, I didn't know that there would be a placenta to pass."

From BBC • Dec. 12, 2025

The women then strung the hearts together, with the flick of a knitting needle, and suspended the creations from a marble urn that commemorates a Mexican freedom fighter.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 24, 2019

The women then strung the hearts together, with the flick of a knitting needle, and suspended the creations from a marble urn that commemorates a Mexican freedom fighter.

From Washington Times • Aug. 24, 2019

Others relate to soviet spy George Blake’s audacious 1966 escape from Wormwood Scrubs using a knitting needle ladder.

From The Guardian • Apr. 2, 2019

There was Thampi Chachen, who searched his shit every morning with a knitting needle for a gold tooth he had swallowed years ago.

From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy