serger

plural sergers

1. businessA type of sewing machine designed to produce an overlock stitch and to cut the fabric as it stitches.

   With that, Mikhail sat down to place spools of thread on the serger, studying the directions and clearly dismissing her.

   2010, Cait London, Instinctive Male, page 158

   2 more examples

   If using a serger instead of a sewing machine, remember to eliminate or otherwise take into account the seam allowances given to each pattern, or you may end up with a larger pillow than expected.[…]Sergers, which create a series of overlapping stitches on the actual edge of the fabric, cutting away the excess, do not require seam allowances.

   2008, Shannon Okey, The Pillow Book: Over 25 Simple-to-Sew Patterns for Every Room and Every Mood, page 31

   If you have a serger, you can use it to finish fabric edges so they don't ravel, but the zigzag stitch on your regular machine works well, too.

   2008, Madlyn Easley, Quick and Easy Window Treatments: 15 Easy-Sew Projects that Build Skills, Too, page 20

   Synonyms: overlock machine