Definition of the word knitting needle

The term "knitting needle" can be traced back to the Middle Ages when knitting first emerged as a popular pastime among women. Originally, knitting needles were made from a variety of materials, including wood, bone, and ivory, and were referred to by different names depending on the region. In early England, knitting needles were often called "woop-woops" or "snitchems," which are likely onomatopoeic words imitating the sound the needles make as they're used in the knitting process. In other parts of Europe, knitting needles were known as "nadel" in German and "pointes a tricoter" in French. However, the term "knitting needle" became widely used in the 19th century as the popularity of knitting gradually increased, and needle-making factories began mass-producing straight and circular needles for the burgeoning market. The name "knitting needle" itself is a modernization of the earlier term "stitching needle," which was originally used interchangeably with "knitting needle" in the early days of knitting when it was still considered a form of sewing. In summary, the origin of the term "knitting needle" can be traced back to a variety of localized names in medieval times, but the term "knitting needle" evolved through a combination of regional dialects and popularization of the craft in the modern era.