backstitch

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US/ˈbækˌstɪt͡ʃ/

noun

A type of sewing stitch where the stitch goes backwards on the top side of the fabric and doubles forward on the bottom, coming out farther in front, then repeats. The backstitch is a very tight and secure stitch, and also looks very neat.

Scrabble 23
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Meanings

nounbackstitch (plural backstitches)

plural backstitches

  1. businessA type of sewing stitch where the stitch goes backwards on the top side of the fabric and doubles forward on the bottom, coming out farther in front, then repeats. The backstitch is a very tight and secure stitch, and also looks very neat.
verbbackstitch (third-person singular simple present backstitches, present participle backstitching, simple past and past participle backstitched)

present singular third person backstitches · participle present backstitching · participle past backstitched · past backstitched

  1. To sew with a backstitch.

Origin

From back + stitch.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian зад игла
  • зад игла (zad igla)to sew with a backstitch
Finnish tikkipisto
  • tikkipistobackstitch
Irish fuáil chúil, fuáil thar droim
  • fuáil chúilbackstitch
  • fuáil thar droimbackstitch
  • cúlghreimbackstitch
  • greim cúilbackstitch
Italian punto indietro
  • punto indietrobackstitch
Polish stębnówka, ścieg stębnowy
  • stębnówkabackstitch
  • ścieg stębnowybackstitch
  • stębnowaćto sew with a backstitch
Spanish pespunte, pespuntar
  • pespuntebackstitch
  • pespuntarto sew with a backstitch

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

stitchback
Cite this entry
APA

backstitch. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/backstitch

MLA

“backstitch.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/backstitch. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “backstitch,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/backstitch.

Source: backstitch on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.