sewing machine

noun

any of various foot-operated or electric machines for sewing or making stitches, ranging from machines with a shuttle for a spool of thread and a needle for sewing garments to industrial machines for sewing leather, book pages together, etc.

sewing machine

any machine designed to sew material. It is now usually driven by electric motor but is sometimes operated by a foot treadle or by hand

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50

His best-loved character was “as beautiful as the fortuitous encounter on a dissecting table of a sewing machine and an umbrella.”

The sewing-machine made a resounding clatter in the room; it was of a ponderous, by-gone make.

Tip wore leaky boots all last winter, but when spring came he bought Mrs. Pulsifer a sewing machine.

She went up in the mornings to Madame Lebrun's room, braving the clatter of the old sewing-machine.

He was unaware at the time of Elias Howe's sewing machine invention of 1846.

Her mother sat at a sewing-machine intent upon some work, the needle eating up a spreading piece of cloth.

April 19, 2024tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

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