Last, n. A wooden block shaped like the human foot, on which boots and shoes are formed.
The cobbler is not to go beyond his last. --L'Estrange.
Darning last, a smooth, hard body, often egg-shaped, put into a stocking to preserve its shape in darning.
Darn v. t. [imp. & p. p. Darned p. pr. & vb. n. Darning.] To mend as a rent or hole, with interlacing stitches of yarn or thread by means of a needle; to sew together with yarn or thread.
He spent every day ten hours in his closet, in darning his stockings. --Swift.
Darning last. See under Last.
Darning needle. (a) A long, strong needle for mending holes or rents, especially in stockings. (b) Zool. Any species of dragon fly, having a long, cylindrical body, resembling a needle. These flies are harmless and without stings.
Note: [In this sense, usually written with a hyphen.] Called also devil's darning-needle.