herringbone

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Pronunciation

• (Canada) IPA: /ˈhɛɹɪŋˌboʊn/

Noun

herringbone (plural herringbones)

1. A bone of a herring
   • 1884: Samuel Smiles, Men of Invention and Industry

     The prosperity of Amsterdam was then so great that it was said that Amsterdam was "founded on herring-bones."

2. A zigzag pattern, especially made by bricks, on a cloth, or by stitches in sewing
   • 1861: Charlotte Yonge, The Young Step-Mother

     'The best path of life is but a herring-bone pattern.'

   • 1922: James Joyce, Ulysses

     Mr Bloom walked behind the eyeless feet, a flatcut suit of herringbone tweed.

3. (skiing) A method of climbing a hill by pointing the skis outward in a V-shape to keep from sliding backwards.
4. Twilled fabric woven in rows of parallel sloping lines
   • 1963, Men's Wear (volume 147, page 39)

     For some strange and elusive reason, the staid, prosaic herringbones have angled themselves into a position of fashion prominence.

Translations

• Italian: ossatura dell'aringa

Translations

• Italian: a spina di pesce

Verb

herringbone (herringbones, present participle herringboning; past and past participle herringboned)

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

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