WHIP sb. 16, v. 18 + STITCH sb.]
1. Needlework. A stitch of the kind described s.v. WHIP v. 18; an overcast stitch: = WHIP sb. 16.
1640. J. Taylor (Water P.), Praise Needle, A 2. The smarting Whip-stitch, Back-stitch, & the Crosse-stitch.
1880. Plain Hints Needlework, 22. Whip-stitch. This should be formed of a very neat tight roll, the raw edge being completely rolled in.
1885. Leno, Boot & Shoemaking, x. 88. When lasted, the upper is braced round with a single thread with a whip-stitch.
1893. Rosevear, Text-Bk. Needlework, 204. The stitch makes the roll on the material look like a whip-cord, and … this is probably the origin of the name of whip-stitch.
2. Phr. (At) every whip-stitch, at short or frequent intervals. dial. and U.S.
1890. J. D. Robertson, Gloss. Glouc., s.v., ‘He was in and out every whip-stitch, meaning ‘every now and then.’
1899. W. R. Lighton, in Atlantic Monthly, LXXXIII. 757/2. With the Greaser, feast days occur at every whipstitch.
† 3. as adv. or int. expressing sudden movement or action. Obs. slang or colloq.
1676. Shadwell, Virtuoso, IV. 74. I’ll slide down from the window … and, Whip Stich, your Nose in my Breech, Sir Nicholas. I’ll leave my Cloaths behind me.
1706. E. Ward, Wooden World Diss. (1708), 80. He shall cast ye a Knot, whip stich, in a Twinkling, as intricate as the Gordion one.
