Third-person singular present tense of 'darn,' meaning to repair holes in fabric by sewing, or to express mild frustration as a euphemism for 'damn.'
From the verb 'darn,' which originated as a euphemistic substitution for 'damn' in the 18th century, possibly influenced by words like 'tarn.' The textile meaning became standardized in English by the 16th-17th century.
English speakers invented 'darn' as a perfect replacement for 'damn' because it sounds similar enough to feel satisfying while being completely appropriate—it's one of the most successful euphemisms ever created!
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