Advertisement
Entries linking to backstitch
back (adj.)"being behind, away from the front, in a backward direction," Middle English, from back (n.) and back (adv.); often difficult to distinguish from these when the word is used in combinations. Formerly with comparative backer (c. 1400), also backermore. To be on the back burner in the figurative sense is from 1960, from the image of a cook keeping a pot there to simmer while at work on another concoction at the front of the stove.
stitch (n.)Old English stice "a prick, puncture, sting, stab," from Proto-Germanic *stikiz (source also of Old Frisian steke, Old High German stih, German Stich "a pricking, prick, sting, stab"), from PIE *stig-i-, from root *steig- "to stick; pointed" (see stick (v.)). The sense of "sudden, stabbing pain in the side" was in late Old English.
Senses in sewing and shoemaking first recorded late 13c.; meaning "bit of clothing one is (or isn't) wearing" is from c. 1500. Meaning "a stroke of work" (of any kind) is attested from 1580s. Surgical sense first recorded 1520s. Sense of "amusing person or thing" is 1968, from notion of laughing so much one gets stitches of pain (compare verbal expression to have (someone) in stitches, 1935).
Senses in sewing and shoemaking first recorded late 13c.; meaning "bit of clothing one is (or isn't) wearing" is from c. 1500. Meaning "a stroke of work" (of any kind) is attested from 1580s. Surgical sense first recorded 1520s. Sense of "amusing person or thing" is 1968, from notion of laughing so much one gets stitches of pain (compare verbal expression to have (someone) in stitches, 1935).
Share backstitch
‘cite’
Page URL:
https://www.etymonline.com/word/backstitch
HTML Link:
<a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/backstitch">Etymology of backstitch by etymonline</a>
APA style:
Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of backstitch. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved $(datetime), from https://www.etymonline.com/word/backstitch
Chicago style:
Harper Douglas, “Etymology of backstitch,” Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed $(datetime), https://www.etymonline.com/word/backstitch.
MLA style:
Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of backstitch.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/backstitch. Accessed $(datetimeMla).
IEEE style:
D. Harper. “Etymology of backstitch.” Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/backstitch (accessed $(datetime)).
Advertisement
Advertisement
Definitions of backstitch
1
backstitch (v.)
do backstitches;
2
backstitch (n.)
an overlapping stitch made by starting the next stitch at the middle of the preceding one;
Dictionary entries near backstitch
backslide
backspace
backstabber
backstage
backstairs
backstitch
backstop
backstory
backstreet
backstroke
backtalk