sewingn.1
/ˈsəʊɪŋ/ 1.
a. The action of sew v.1; the use of a needle and thread; the uniting of pieces of material (etc.) by this means. In Bookbinding: see sew v.1 1e.
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the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture textile fabric or that which consists of > sewing or ornamenting textile fabric > [noun] > sewing
sewingc1290
seama1400
poiningc1450
needle-toil1822
suturation1891
Jewing1901
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture textile fabric or that which consists of > sewing or ornamenting textile fabric > [noun] > sewing > sewing together
sewingc1290
stitching1521
society > communication > book > manufacture or production of books > book-binding > [noun] > sewing, fastening of leaves
overcasting1835
sewing1835
stitch1835
saddle stitching1890
French sewing1923
c1290 S. Eng. Leg. 261/18 With spinningue and with seuwingue hire liflode heo wan.
1428–9 in H. Littlehales Medieval Rec. London City Church (1905) 71 The lauendere for a hole ȝere wasshynge & sowenge..ij s.
1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope xiii [A tayller] whiche surmounted alle the other in shapynge or sewynge.
1566 in Fleming Mary Q. of Scots (1897) 506 Item for schiuine and the fassoune and pontis.
1598 A. M. tr. J. Guillemeau Frenche Chirurg. 13/3 Sowinge of a wounde is a vnitinge and coupling together of the dissevered partes with a threded needle.
1691 J. Ray Wisdom of God 209 To manage the Needle in Sewing, and the Pen in Writing.
1835 ‘J. A. Arnett’ Bibliopegia 20 There are various ways of sewing, according to the size and thickness of the sheets of a book.
1872 J. Yeats Techn. Hist. Commerce 155 The rise of the tailor's art did not take the constant occupation of sewing out of the hands of women.
1874 E. H. Knight Amer. Mech. Dict. I. 332/2 A machine for folding sheets for gathering, sewing and binding.
1880 J. W. Zaehnsdorf Art of Bookbinding v. 22 This is the strongest sewing executed at the present day.
1951 L. Town Bookbinding by Hand v. 99 If the sewing is done too tightly the book will be ‘nipped in’ at the kettle-stitches.
b. with prefixed word denoting the kind.
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1878 W. S. Jevons Polit. Econ. 72 Those who were not..wise enough to learn machine-sewing, receive better wages for hand-sewing than they would formerly have done.
2. concrete. Work sewn; materials to be sewn; the stitches or seams of anything.
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the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > sewn or ornamented textile fabric > [noun] > sewing or work sewn
seama1400
sewingc1400
bridling1837
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > sewn or ornamented textile fabric > [noun] > sewing or work sewn > materials to be sewn
sewingc1400
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > sewn or ornamented textile fabric > [noun] > sewing or work sewn > stitch > stitches
sewingc1400
stitching1560
steeking1561
c1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 143 & þanne bynde þe nose wiþ two bandis..þe toþir schal be leid aboue þat he mowe kepe þe plumaciols, poudre, & þe sowynge.
1565 in Fleming Reform. Scot. (1910) 610 Four coffarris with hir clayis and sewingis.
1706 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1885) I. 177 (Near to the Sewing), not at ye Top of ye Page.
1845 M. J. Howell Hand-bk. Dress-making 47 No opportunity should be lost in making the sewing look well.
1865 J. Hatton Bitter Sweets iii Mrs. Grey looked up from her sewing.
3. plural. Sewing thread or silk: see sewing thread n., sewing silk n. at Compounds 1c.
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the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > thread or yarn > [noun] > for sewing
sewings1844
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > thread or yarn > [noun] > silk > for sewing or embroidery
sewing silk1480
silks?a1513
buttonhole twist1840
sewings1844
embroidery silk1851
machine twist1863
tailor's twist1873
horsetail1880
rope1880
twist1890
rope embroidery silk1895
1844 G. Dodd Textile Manuf. Great Brit. vi. 184 Sewings are compound threads of silk, wound, cleaned, doubled and thrown, with especial reference to their ultimate use as sewing-silk.
1853 E. E. Perkins Haberdashery (ed. 8) 24 Cloth Sewings—coarse large skeins for tailors' use.
1862 Catal. Internat. Exhib., Brit. II. No. 3656 Dyed and polished yarns and sewings.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
a.
sewing card n.
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1887 A. M. Sullivan Let. 20 Mar. in H. Keller Story of my Life (1903) iii. iii. 312 Her father..sees her contentedly stringing her beads or making horizontal lines on her sewing-card.
1961 M. K. Ashby Joseph Ashby vii. 87 Tripping round in action songs..and the sewing cards..certainly made them [sc. the children] happier.
sewing chair n.
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1868 7th Ann. Rep. State Board Agric. Michigan 354 A. Dondero, Detroit..[exhibited] 1 willow ladies' sewing chair.
1978 D. Clark Liberties v. 99 He looked at Mrs. Middleton on the sewing chair.
sewing-room n.
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1852 E. E. Hale If, Yes & Perhaps (1868) 56 I always offered my services in the Sunday-schools and sewing-rooms.
1881 Rep. Indian Affairs 189 In the sewing-room a number of the large girls cut and fit garments.
1978 R. Hill Pinch of Snuff v. 50 We use this as a sewing-room... Alice..makes all our clothes in here.
sewing-work n.
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1840 Defoe's Col. Jack in Misc. Wks. V. 343 She..took up her sewing-work.
b. = employed in sewing or in teaching sewing.
sewing-class n.
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1864 Laycock Lanc. Rhymes 62 We couldn't have an easier job nor goin' to th' sewin' class.
sewing girl n.
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1848 ‘N. Buntline’ Mysteries & Miseries N.Y. 11 What, a little sewing girl, eh?
1870 O. Logan Before Footlights 576 Among the same number of sewing-girls of our great cities.
sewing-maid n.
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1886 York Herald 23 Aug. 1/5 Useful Sewing-maid.
sewing-mistress n.
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1870 Act 33 & 34 Victoria c. 75 §3 The term ‘teacher’ includes assistant teacher, pupil teacher, sewing mistress.
sewing-society n.
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1842 C. Dickens Amer. Notes I. iii. 109 They have among themselves a sewing society to make clothes for the poor.
sewing-woman n.
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1847 J. W. Carlyle Lett. II. 15 All the sewing women I knew of being unable to come.
c. Of materials used for sewing.† sewing gold n. Obsolete (gold n.1 3a.)
sewing cotton n. (cotton n.1 3.)
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the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > thread or yarn > [noun] > cotton > sewing cotton
sewing cotton1826
cotton1848
1826 Haberdasher's Guide 13 Coloured Sewing Cottons.
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1534 in J. B. Paul Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1905) VI. 191 Twa gret hankis..sewing gold.
1566 in Fleming Mary Q. of Scots (1897) 505 Item of schiuine gold iiij doubil hankis.
sewing silk n.
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the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > thread or yarn > [noun] > silk > for sewing or embroidery
sewing silk1480
silks?a1513
buttonhole twist1840
sewings1844
embroidery silk1851
machine twist1863
tailor's twist1873
horsetail1880
rope1880
twist1890
rope embroidery silk1895
1480 Wardrobe Accts. Edward IV in N. H. Nicolas Privy Purse Expenses Elizabeth of York (1830) 136 Sowing sylk, j lb. ij unces and a quarter.
1621 in A. J. Kempe Losely MSS (1836) 426 Stitching and soeing silke, 4s. 6d.
1826 M. R. Mitford Our Village II. 190 Trimmings, ribands, sewing-silk, and lining.
sewing silver n. (silver n. 4.)
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1546 in J. D. Marwick Extracts Rec. Burgh Edinb. (1871) II. 126 Sewing sylver, to be sawld in punds.
sewing thread n.
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1566 in Fleming Mary Q. of Scots (1897) 499 Four pound of fyne suyng threide.
1850 A. Pratt Chapters Common Things Sea-side iv. 247 Scarcely larger than a sewing thread.
sewing worsted n.
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1612 Bk. Customs & Valuation in A. Halyburton Ledger (1867) 296 Sewing worsett the dozen pound weght thairof.
d. Of contrivances, etc. for holding materials to be sewn.
sewing bird n.
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1857 Spirit of Times (N.Y.) 21 Nov. 192/3 (advt.) Gold bracelets, gold pencils, sewing-birds.
1868 in E. E. Hale Ingham Papers (1869) 224 What is the matter with New-Altona? Emily has a very good sewing-bird that was made there.
1875 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Sewing-bird,..a device for holding the work while sewing... It has assumed many forms, the bird being ornamental and holding the work in its beak.
1949 R. J. Sim Pages from Past 10 Who can say when the ancestor of the sewing bird made its appearance on the edge of the table?
sewing-frame n. (frame n. 7.)
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society > communication > book > manufacture or production of books > book-binding > bookbinding equipment > [noun] > other equipment
backing-board1741
runner1818
sewing-frame1818
trindle1818
laying-press1835
gathering-table1841
gathering-board1874
pressing board1875
lying-press1876
1818 H. Parry Art of Bookbinding 1 Sewing-frame, with brass or iron keys, to fasten the cords or bands.
1876 Encycl. Brit. IV. 43/1 When taken out of the sewing-frame the fly-leaves are pasted on.
sewing-horse n.
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1875 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Sewing-horse, a harness-maker's clamp for holding leather while being sewed.
sewing-press n. (press n.1 11b.)
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1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Bookbinding They are then sew'd in the Sewing-Press.
1842 Penny Mag. 24 Sept. 380/2 When the book is taken from the sewing-press, an inch or two of each string is left hanging to it.
sewing table n.
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1863 A. D. T. Whitney Faith Gartney's Girlhood xxi. 199 In her low chair by her sewing-table, sat the young sister.
1875 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Sewing-table, a table or bench at which signatures of books are sewed to the cords or bands by which they are fastened together, and also secured in the cover.
1924 H. T. Lowe-Porter tr. T. Mann Buddenbrooks I. i. 6 There was a sewing-table by the window.
1979 Country Life 27 Sept. (Suppl.) 59/3 Faded mahogany sewing table.
e. Of a gathering for the purpose of sewing.
sewing bee n.
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1862 M. D. Colt Went to Kansas i. 23 Have had two sewing bees; one for the old ladies, and one for the young.
1880 Harper's Mag. Aug. 354/2 There is church twice a month, sewing bees, and apple-butter stirrings.
1885 E. B. Custer Boots & Saddles xii. 125 The ladies quietly arranged, as a surprise, a sewing-bee.
1936 F. Clune Roaming round Darling xxi. 209 Funds are raised in various ways, such as dances, sewing-bees, jam and wood days.
1976 R. Barnard Little Local Murder iii. 35 Mrs. Smith, a woman of no importance who had had a forlorn hope of starting a sewing-bee.
sewing circle n.
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1846 Knickerbocker 27 373 As if I too belonged to a sewing-circle, and read charity sermons.
1860 J. G. Holland Miss Gilbert's Career ii. 18 She managed the village sewing circle.
1880 Harper's Mag. Mar. 577/2 I've attended reg'lar to prayer meetin's and sewin' circle.
1912 L. M. Montgomery Chron. Avonlea ii. 50 The minister's wife..asked her if she wouldn't come to their Sewing Circle.
1979 B. Parvin Deadly Dyke ix. 47 Find out if there's a local sewing circle..in the village.
C2. † sewing-rope n. Obsolete ? some kind of rope used for scaffolding.
sewing-brod n. Scottish a tailor's board.
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the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > tailoring or making clothes > [noun] > place > board
shop board1580
panel1612
sewing-brod1790
board1807
1790 A. Wilson Poems 199 He at the sowing-brod was bred, An' wrought gude Serge an' Tyken.
sewing-clerk n. in the glove trade, a district collector of sewing done by home-workers.
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the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > tailoring or making clothes > making other clothing > [noun] > making gloves > one who > one who carries out specific process
pointer?1881
sewing-clerk1884
1884 Pall Mall Gaz. 16 May 4/1 The glove-making counties are mapped out into circuits, each of which has its sewing clerk or commercial traveller.
sewing needle n.
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1613 M. Ridley Short Treat. Magneticall Bodies 6 Smaller wiers, sowing-needles and such like small waights.
1780 Philos. Trans. 1779 (Royal Soc.) 69 540 I stuck the point of this sewing needle to the lower extremity of a steel magnet.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. xx. 144 If a common steel sewing needle be substituted for the iron [etc.].
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society > occupation and work > equipment > building and constructing equipment > fastenings > [noun] > rope, cord, or line > types of
warp1296
sewing-rope1336
viring-rope1336
wardrope1338
bast1357
breast rope1412
balk-line1506
waterline1626
shank1706
selvage1711
shroud hawser1744
white line1747
selvagee1750
cringle1787
staple-rope1794
bracing-rope1827
selvage-stropc1860
soga1860
four-cant1867
toggle-lanyard1874
maguey1908
snorter1950
snotter1950
1336 Accts. Exchequer King's Remembrancer 19/31 m. 4 Sewenge rope [made of skin (pelle)].
1500–18 Extracts Bk. Building Louth Steeple (modernized text) in Archaeologia (1792) 10 74 Paid to Robert Beverley for 6 bunch sewing rope.
sewing school n.
ΚΠ
1809 Sporting Mag. 33 281 The sewing-school, the pastry-school, were then essential branches of female education.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1913; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
† sewingn.2
Obsolete.
The action of a sewer; the arrangement of the guests and serving up of dishes or courses.
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the world > food and drink > food > serving food > [noun]
servingc1425
sewinga1483
the service of the table1588
ushering1598
dishing1679
helping1824
waiterage1849
waitering1862
a1483 Liber Niger in Coll. Ordinances Royal Househ. (1790) 37 The manner of sewing of dishes at the dressour.
1508 Bk. Keruynge (de Worde) sig. Bivv The sewynge of fysshe... To goo to sewynge of fysshe muscalade menewes in sewe [etc.].
1508 Bk. Keruynge (de Worde) sig. A.iv Here foloweth sewynge of flesshe.
1508 Bk. Keruynge (de Worde) sig. A.ivv The borde of sewynge.
1508 Bk. Keruynge (de Worde) sig. B.viv Here endeth the boke of seruyce and keruynge and sewynge.
1627 G. Hakewill Apologie iv. x. 403 Dinner and supper was served in with all accustomed ceremonies, as sewing, water, grace, carving, say taking, &c.
1812 R. Southey Omniana II. cxcvi. 71 The terms of carving and sewing.]
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1913; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
sewingadj.
That sews.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture textile fabric or that which consists of > sewing or ornamenting textile fabric > [adjective] > sewing
sewing1837
1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. I. vii. ii. 346 The fair sewing fingers.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1913; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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n.1c1290
n.2a1483
adj.1837