whipstitch

whipstitch

See also: whip stitch

English

Etymology

whip +‎ stitch

Noun

whipstitch (plural whipstitches)

1. A stitch that passes diagonally over an edge.
2. (derogatory, archaic) A tailor.
3. Anything hastily put or stitched together; a hasty composition.
   • c. 1678, John Dryden, Mac Flecknoe

     Where sold he bargains, "whip-stitch, kiss my arse", / Promised a play and dwindled to a farce?

4. (colloquial) A little bit, especially a small interval of time; an instant.
5. (agriculture) Half-ploughing or raftering.

Verb

whipstitch (third-person singular simple present whipstitches, present participle whipstitching, simple past and past participle whipstitched)

1. To sew using such a stitch.
2. (agriculture) To half-plough or rafter.