[f. KNIT v. + -ER1.]
1. One who or that which ties, knots, unites, or closely joins together. lit. and fig.
c. 1440. Capgrave, Life St. Kath., IV. 2311. On oo god I beleue … I beleue on Ihesu … I leue in the goost, knettere of hem too.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, xiv. 225. Wee see in mans body … a greate nomber of sinewes, Fleshstrings, and knitters.
1604. Dekker, Honest Wh., Wks. 1873, II. 74. He means this day to be married … Frier Anselmo is the Knitter.
2. One who knits or works up yarn or thread into a looped texture, for hosiery, etc.
c. 1515. Cocke Lorell’s B., 10. Spynsters, carders, and cappe knytters.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., II. iv. 45. The Spinsters and the Knitters in the Sun.
1723. Lond. Gaz., No. 6224/9. Thomas Pratchitt, late of Nottingham, Frame Work Knitter.
1778. Johnson, in Boswell, 7 April. A knitter of stockings.
1834–7. Southey, Doctor (title), T’ terrible Knitters e’ Dent.
1844. G. Dodd, Textile Manuf., vii. 209. A framework knitter (the technical name for a stocking maker).
b. A knitting-machine.
1890. Chicago Advance, 12 June. Some sort of an invention … a knitter.
† 3. (app.) Some knitted article of dress. Obs.
1530. in Weaver, Wells Wills (1890), 145. My wyfes best cap, her best gowne, her best knytter. Ibid. (1532), 105. His eldest dowter a cape and a knytter—to the ijnd dowter a aprone and a knytter. Ibid. (1534), 107. A cap with a knytter.
