herringbone
verbEtymology From herring + bone.
1
To stitch in a herringbone pattern.
- Derived terms
- herringboned
herringbone
nounCA /ˈhɛɹɪŋˌboʊn/
Etymology From herring + bone.
1
Literally A bone of a herring.
- The prosperity of Amsterdam was then so great that it was said that Amsterdam was "founded on herring-bones."1884, Samuel Smiles, Men of Invention and Industry:
2
A zigzag pattern, especially made by bricks, on a cloth, or by stitches in sewing.
- 'The best path of life is but a herring-bone pattern.'1861, Charlotte Yonge, The Young Step-Mother:
- Mr Bloom walked behind the eyeless feet, a flatcut suit of herringbone tweed.1922 February, James Joyce, Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, […], →OCLC:
1 more example
- Though almost engulfed by Bedford, Elstow's claim to villagedom is still maintained by two fine rows of timber-framed, overhung, black-and-white cottages and the timber and herringbone-brick Swan pub.1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 174:
4
Business, Manufacturing, Textiles Twilled fabric woven in rows of parallel sloping lines.
- For some strange and elusive reason, the staid, prosaic herringbones have angled themselves into a position of fashion prominence.1963, Men's Wear, volume 147, page 39:
- Derived terms
- herringbone gear, herringbone stitch
- Related terms
- fishbone, herringlike