Jarum

Jarum is the Indonesian and Malay word for a needle, a slender, pointed instrument used to pierce materials or pass thread through them. The term covers sewing needles, knitting needles, and medical needles such as syringe and surgical needles, among others. In everyday language, jarum is used in compound forms such as jarum jahit (sewing needle), jarum rajut (knitting needle), and jarum suntik (syringe needle).

Most common jarum are made of steel or stainless steel, with a sharp point and one end formed into an eye for threading. Medical needles may be hollow or curved and are produced to sterile medical standards. Knitting and sewing needles vary in length and thickness to suit fabrics and techniques, and may be coated to ease handling. Specialty needles exist for leather, denim, or delicate textiles, as well as for crafts and medical applications.

Needles have a long history dating to ancient civilizations, originally fashioned from bone, horn, or various metals. In Indonesian contexts, metal needles have been used for textiles and crafts for centuries, with modern production expanding to a wide range of sizes and specialized types. The word jarum remains a general term for needle across Malay-speaking regions, applied in everyday speech as well as in technical and industrial contexts.