Also spelled derned

US /dɑrn/ UK /dɑːn/
verb intj

Meanings

  1. 1
    verb

    to mend a hole by interweaving thread; a mild oath

    She sat by the fire to darn the worn socks.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 verb · to mend a hole by... mendrepairpatchsewstitch
Opposites
Word family
Derived forms darningdarneddarner

Etymology

The mending sense is from the 16th century, of uncertain origin, perhaps from dialectal English 'dern' ('to hide, mend'); the interjection is a euphemistic alteration of 'damn'.

Topics

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