stitchlessadj.
Without stitches; spec. (formerly) of a tennis ball, put together without stitches or a stitched seam. Also, ‘without a stitch’, unclothed.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > wearing clothing > nakedness or state of being unclothed > [adjective]
nakedOE
bareOE
start nakedc1225
nakec1300
unarrayedc1380
clothelessc1386
mother-nakedc1390
stark nakedc1390
bareda1400
naked as a needlec1400
unattiredc1400
uncladc1400
uncoveredc1400
loose1423
unclothedc1440
belly-nakeda1500
naked as one's nail1563
unabuilyeit1568
sindonlessc1595
leathern1596
disarrayed1611
undressed1613
debaredc1620
unapparelled1622
unaccoutred?1750
stark1762
disrobed1794
ungarmented1798
undraped1814
au naturel1828
nude1830
skyclad1832
garbless1838
kitless1846
spar-naked1849
raimentless1852
undoffed1854
togless1857
garmentless1866
naked as a robin1866
clothesless1868
sky clothed1878
nakedized1885
altogether1896
buck naked1913
raw1916
bollock naked1922
starkers1923
starko1923
stitchless1927
naked as a jaybird1931
bollock1950
rollock naked1962
nekkid1977
kit-off1992
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > racket games > lawn tennis > [adjective] > type of ball
stitchless1927
1927 Daily Tel. 22 Mar. 15/6 W. H. Powell..was beaten... It was due..to the fact that Powell is not yet used to the stitchless ball.
1939 J. Joyce Finnegans Wake 451 I'd plant you..on the electric ottoman in the lap of lechery, simpringly stitchless with admiracion.
1953 M. Peake Mr. Pye xvi. 128 She had left her clothes on a high rock... ‘My child..’ said Mr. Pye ‘..my stitchless child.’
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1986; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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adj.1927