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darn

darn /dɑːrn/

verbB2

General

To mend a hole in knitted material by interweaving yarn across the gap.

Darning specifically involves weaving thread back and forth to recreate the fabric's structure, rather than simply pulling the edges of a hole together or applying a patch.

The story behind the word. The etymology of 'darn' is beautifully poetic. It is believed to derive from the Middle English 'dernen', which meant 'to hide or keep secret'. When you darn a sock, you are literally hiding the hole and keeping the wear and tear a secret from the world.

Word relationships

mend: Mend is a general term for repairing anything broken, while darn specifically refers to weaving over holes in fabric.
repair: Repair is a broad, formal term, whereas darn is a specific, traditional textile technique.

tear: To tear is to rip fabric apart, the exact opposite of darning it.

Commonly confused with

patch: To darn is to weave new threads across a hole to rebuild the fabric, while to patch is to sew a separate piece of cloth over the hole.

Word family

darner (noun): A person who darns, or a tool used to facilitate darning.
darning (noun): The act or material used in mending holes.

Collocations

darn a sock
darning needle
darning egg
darned heel

Example sentences

"She sat by the fire to darn her husband's worn woolen socks." A classic literary description of domestic thrift.

Memory hook

Think of 'darning' a sock as 'hiding' the hole so no one can see it. Darn: weave to hide the hole.

When not to use

Do not use 'darn' for patching woven fabrics with a separate piece of cloth, or for general repairs that do not involve weaving over a hole.

Fun facts

Traditional darning often utilized a 'darning egg'—a smooth, egg-shaped object made of wood, stone, or glass inserted into the toe or heel of a sock to hold the fabric taut while mending.

Related words

stitch, frayed

Explore more words

weave, dart, alteration, restore, loom, seam