v. [UN-2 3.] trans. To remove stitches from; to detach or separate in this way.
1538. Elyot, Resuo,… to vnstytche.
1639. T. de Gray, Expert Farrier, 331. Stop both your horse eares;… stitch them up, and … [later] unstitch them.
1648. Hexham, II. Ontnaeyt, vnsowne, or vnstitcht.
1688. R. L’Estrange, Tully’s Offices, 79. As Wise men say of … Ill Grounded Friendships; ’tis better to unstich than to tear them all to pieces on a suddain.
a. 1774. Goldsm., trans. Scarron’s Com. Romance (1775), II. 25. When he scuffled with anybody,… he ever tore or unstitched the cloaths of his adversary.
1860. Ure’s Dict. Arts (ed. 5), I. 547. After washing, the pieces [of calico] are unstitched, and put in the hydro-extractor.
