verb (used with object), sewed, sew·ing.
- to ground (a vessel) at low tide (sometimes fol by up).
verb (used without object), sewed, sew·ing.
- (of a vessel) to be grounded at low tide.
noun
- the amount of additional water necessary to float a grounded vessel.
verb sews, sewing, sewed, sewn or sewed
- to join or decorate (pieces of fabric, etc) by means of a thread repeatedly passed through with a needle or similar implement
- (tr; often foll by on or up) to attach, fasten, or close by sewing
- (tr) to make (a garment, etc) by sewing
v.Old English siwian “to stitch, sew, mend, patch, knit together,” earlier siowian, from Proto-Germanic *siwjanan (cf. Old Norse syja, Swedish sy, Danish sye, Old Frisian sia, Old High German siuwan, Gothic siujan “to sew”), from PIE root *syu- “to bind, sew” (cf. Sanskrit sivyati “sews,” sutram “thread, string;” Greek hymen “thin skin, membrane,” hymnos “song;” Latin suere “to sew, sew together;” Old Church Slavonic šijo “to sew,” šivu “seam;” Lettish siuviu, siuti “to sew,” siuvikis “tailor;” Russian švec “tailor”). Related: Sewed; sewing. To sew (something) up “bring it to a conclusion” is a figurative use attested by 1904.