Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Stitch \Stitch\, n. [OE. stiche, AS. stice a pricking, akin to
   stician to prick. See {Stick}, v. i.]
   1. A single pass of a needle in sewing; the loop or turn of
      the thread thus made.

   2. A single turn of the thread round a needle in knitting; a
      link, or loop, of yarn; as, to let down, or drop, a
      stitch; to take up a stitch.

   3. [Cf. OE. sticche, stecche, stucche, a piece, AS. stycce.
      Cf. {Stock}.] A space of work taken up, or gone over, in a
      single pass of the needle; hence, by extension, any space
      passed over; distance.

            You have gone a good stitch.          --Bunyan.

            In Syria the husbandmen go lightly over with their
            plow, and take no deep stitch in making their
            furrows.                              --Holland.

   4. A local sharp pain; an acute pain, like the piercing of a
      needle; as, a stitch in the side.

            He was taken with a cold and with stitches, which
            was, indeed, a pleurisy.              --Bp. Burnet.

   5. A contortion, or twist. [Obs.]

            If you talk, Or pull your face into a stitch again,
            I shall be angry.                     --Marston.

   6. Any least part of a fabric or dress; as, to wet every
      stitch of clothes. [Colloq.]

   7. A furrow. --Chapman.

   {Chain stitch}, {Lock stitch}. See in the Vocabulary.

   {Pearl}, or {Purl stitch}. See 2nd {Purl}, 2.

Purl \Purl\, n.
   1. An embroidered and puckered border; a hem or fringe, often
      of gold or silver twist; also, a pleat or fold, as of a
      band.

            A triumphant chariot made of carnation velvet,
            enriched withpurl and pearl.          --Sir P.
                                                  Sidney.

   2. An inversion of stitches in knitting, which gives to the
      work a ribbed or waved appearance.

   {Purl stitch}. Same as {Purl}, n., 2.

Source : WordNet®

purl stitch
     n : a basic knitting stitch [syn: {purl}]
     v : make with purl stitches