[f. FINE a. and adv. + DRAW v. The stress is equal or variable.]
1. trans. To draw or sew together (two edges of a rent, two pieces of tapestry, etc.) so finely that the join is not noticed; to mend (a garment) neatly.
[1713. (Implied in fine-drawer: see below).]
1755. in Johnson.
1756. Rolt, Dict. Trade, s.v. It is now prohibited to fine-draw pieces of foreign manufacture upon those made in Great Britain.
a. 1774. Goldsm., trans. Scarron’s Comic Rom. (1775), I. 83. The jest had gone no farther, had not a bungling taylor advised him to get his hat fine-drawn.
1833. Marryat, P. Simple (L.). It was in my best pair of kerseymeres, but, thanks to the skilful little seamstress, I got them finedrawn.
1852. G. P. R. James, Peguinillo, III. 196. Did you ever buy a coat without looking through it to see that it wasn’t fine-drawn?
2. To draw out to minute fineness, tenuity, or subtlety. lit. and fig. Somewhat rare.
1761. Churchill, Rosciad, Poems, 1763, I. 57.
| Let wits, like spiders, from the tortured brain | |
| Fine-draw the critic-web with curious pain. |
1845. Mrs. S. C. Hall, Whiteboy, iv. 35. The rude but genuine hospitality was being fine-drawn in every direction.
b. intr. (nonce-use.) To execute elaborate variations.
1859. G. Meredith, R. Feverel, II. iv. 44. To gentlemen and ladies he fine-draws upon the viol, ravishingly.
Hence Fine-drawing vbl. sb., the action of the vb., also concr. (see quot. 1888). Also Fine-drawer, one who fine-draws.
1713. Phil. Trans., XXVIII. 225. If you tare a piece of Muslin into two Pieces, and give it to one of their Fine-Drawers to set it together again.
1735. Dyche & Pardon, Dict., Fine Drawing, a … Way of mending Rents in Cloaths, a particular Part of the Taylor’s Art, and commonly a distinct Employment.
1871. G. Meredith, H. Richmond, lv. (1889), 524. Toss common-sense overboard, there’s no end to your fine-drawings.
1883. Almondbury Gloss., Finedrawer.
1888. Elworthy, W. Somerset Word-bk., Fine-drawing, the name of one of the sorts of long or combing wool, sorted out of the fleece.
