crewel

[ kroo-uhl ]
See synonyms for crewel on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. Also called crewel yarn . a worsted yarn for embroidery and edging.

Origin of crewel

1
First recorded in 1485–95; earlier crule; origin uncertain

Other words from crewel

  • crew·el·ist, crew·el·er, noun

Words Nearby crewel

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use crewel in a sentence

  • She dried her tears hastily, took up her crewel-work, sat still, and said no more.

    A Country Gentleman and his Family | Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant
  • crewel and Outline Stitches worked (J) side by side give somewhat the effect of a braid.

    Art in Needlework | Lewis F. Day
  • Another instance of crewel-stitch is given in the divided skirt, let us call it, of the personage in Illustration 72.

    Art in Needlework | Lewis F. Day
  • In solid crewel the stitches should quite cover the ground without pressing too closely one against the other.

    Art in Needlework | Lewis F. Day
  • It does not seem that Englishwomen of the 17th century were ever very faithful to the stitch we know by the name of crewel.

    Art in Needlework | Lewis F. Day

British Dictionary definitions for crewel

crewel

/ (ˈkruːɪl) /


noun
  1. a loosely twisted worsted yarn, used in fancy work and embroidery

Origin of crewel

1
C15: of unknown origin

Derived forms of crewel

  • crewelist, noun
  • crewelwork, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012