chain stitch

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

• noun A decorative sewing stitch in which loops are connected like the links of a chain.
• noun A basic crochet stitch in which connected loops of yarn or thread form a chain.

from The Century Dictionary.

• noun A stitch used in various kinds of ornamental needlework, in ordinary sewing (in contrast with the lockstitch) by some sewing-machines, and as the characteristic method in tambour-work.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

• An ornamental stitch like the links of a chain; -- used in crocheting, sewing, and embroidery.
• (Machine Sewing) A stitch in which the looping of the thread or threads forms a chain on the under side of the work; the loop stitch, as distinguished from the lock stitch. See Stitch.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

• noun An ornamental stitch like the links of a chain, used in crocheting, sewing, and embroidery.
• noun A stitch in which the looping of the thread or threads forms a chain on the underside of the work; the loop stitch, as distinguished from the lock stitch.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

• noun a looped stitch resembling the links of a chain; used in embroidery and in sewing
• noun the most basic of all crochet stitches made by pulling a loop of yarn through another loop