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Noun: darning needle
  1. A long needle with an eye large enough for heavy darning or embroidery thread
    "She threaded the darning needle with colourful silk floss";
    - embroidery needle
     
  2. [N. Amer] Slender-bodied non-stinging insect having iridescent wings that are outspread at rest; adults and nymphs feed on mosquitoes etc.
    "The darning needle hovered effortlessly over the pond, its wings glinting in the sunlight";
    - dragonfly, devil's darning needle [N. Amer], snake feeder [N. Amer], snake doctor [N. Amer], mosquito hawk [N. Amer], skeeter hawk [N. Amer], darner [N. Amer]

Derived forms: darning needles

Type of: odonate, sewing needle

Encyclopedia: Darning needle