Devil’s Darnin' Needle
In Southern and Appalachian speech, a devil’s darning needle is a folk name for a dragonfly - rooted in old superstitions about dragonflies sewing up snakes or people.
synonyms: dragonfly (folk name), snake doctor, snake feeder
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I love these old long ones like 'devil’s darning needles,' but this one in particular I've only ready. Pronunciation
[DEV-uls DAR-ning NEE-dul] /ˈdɛvəlz ˈdɑːrnɪŋ ˌniːdəl/
Meaning & Usage
- A dragonfly (folk name)
Ellie:
Run! Devil’s darning needle’ll sew your lips shut!
Run! Devil’s darning needle’ll sew your lips shut!
Pete:
It’s just a dragonfly!
It’s just a dragonfly!variations: devil’s darning needle, devils darning needle, devil’s sewing needle
★ This name reflects an old superstition that dragonflies would sew up the mouths of liars or snakes - giving them their "needle" reputation. ★
Origin
Recorded widely in Southern/Appalachian and European folklore. The name "devil’s darning needle" appears in print from the 1800s and spread to rural America, especially the South, where it blended with local myths about snakes and sewing.
Notes
- Devil’s darning needle - folk name for a dragonfly with a superstition attached.
- Related to snake doctor and snake feeder.
- Belief that it would "sew your lips shut" or "stitch snakes" made kids wary of them.
- Still known among older speakers but mainly as a nostalgic folk name now.