Dictionary

herringbone en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈhɛɹɪŋˌboʊn/ (Canada)

Etymology

From herring + bone.

Meanings

1. (countable, 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. (countable, uncountable) A zigzag pattern, especially made by bricks, on a cloth, or by stitches in sewing.
   • 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:
   • Mr Bloom walked behind the eyeless feet, a flatcut suit of herringbone tweed. 1922 February 2, James Joyce, Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company […], →OCLC:
   • 'The best path of life is but a herring-bone pattern.' 1861, Charlotte Yonge, The Young Step-Mother:
3. (countable) A method of climbing a hill by pointing the skis outward in a V-shape to keep from sliding backwards.
4. (countable, uncountable) 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:

Forms

Deriveds

herringbone gear · herringbone stitch

Relateds

herringlike · fishbone

Translations (24)

fi kalanruotokuvio (pattern) · da sildebensmønster (pattern) · cs rybí kostra (pattern) · de Fischgrätenstich (pattern) · ru ёлочка (pattern) · fi haarakäynti (method of climbing on skis) · fi kalanruotokangas (fabric) · bg рибена кост (method of climbing on skis) · ga cnámh an scadáin (bone of a herring) · ga cnámh an scadáin (pattern) · it a spina di pesce (pattern) · pl jodełka (pattern) · pt ziguezague (pattern) · tr balıksırtı (pattern) · ca mostra d’espiga (pattern) · fi sillinruoto (bone of a herring) · fi kalanruoto- (pattern) · fi haaranousu (method of climbing on skis) · bg рибена кост (pattern) · de Fischgrätenmuster (pattern) · mi whakaiwituna (pattern) · da sildeben (bone of a herring) · it ossatura dell'aringa (bone of a herring) · da sildebensparket (pattern)

herringbone en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˈhɛɹɪŋˌboʊn/ (Canada)

Etymology

From herring + bone.

Meanings

1. To stitch in a herringbone pattern.
2. To climb a hill by pointing the skis outward in a V-shape to keep from sliding backwards.

Forms

Deriveds

herringboned