stitch

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
stitch/stɪtʃ/

▶noun

• 1 a loop of thread or yarn resulting from a single pass or movement of the needle in sewing, knitting, or crocheting.

  ■ a method of sewing, knitting, or crocheting producing a particular pattern: an embroidery stitch.

• 2 [usu. with neg.] informal the smallest item of clothing: swimming around with not a stitch on.

• 3 a sudden sharp pain in the side of the body, caused by strenuous exercise.

▶verb

• 1 make or mend with stitches; apply a stitch or stitches to.

• 2 (stitch someone up) Brit. informal manipulate a situation to someone's disadvantage.

  ■ (stitch something up) manipulate a situation or secure a deal to one's own advantage.

– phrases
in stitches informal laughing uncontrollably.

– derivatives
stitcher noun,
stitchery noun,
stitching noun,
stitchless adjective.

– origin OE stice, of Gmc origin; rel. to stick2.