v.
tr. To mend (a garment, for example) by weaving thread or yarn across a gap or hole. v.
intr. To repair a hole, as in a garment, by weaving thread or yarn across it. n. A hole repaired by weaving thread or yarn across it: a sock full of darns.
[French dialectal darner, perhaps from Norman French darne, piece, from Breton darn.]
darn 2 (därn) interj. Used to express dissatisfaction or annoyance. adv.
& adj. Damn. tr.v.
darned, darn·ing, darns To damn.
tame curse word, 1781, Amer.Eng. euphemism for damn, said to have originated in New England when swearing was a punishable offense; if so, its spread was probably infl. by 'tarnal, short for Eternal, as in By the Eternal (God), favorite exclamation of Andrew Jackson, among others.