herringbone

1 of 2

noun

her·​ring·​bone ˈher-iŋ-ˌbōn How to pronounce herringbone (audio)
ˈhe-riŋ-
often attributive
1
: a pattern made up of rows of parallel lines which in any two adjacent rows slope in opposite directions
2
a
: a twilled fabric with a herringbone pattern
also : a suit made of this fabric
b
: a herringbone arrangement (as of materials or parts)
3
: a method in skiing of ascending a slope by herringboning

Illustration of herringbone

Illustration of herringbone
  • herringbone 1

herringbone

2 of 2

verb

herringboned; herringboning; herringbones

transitive verb

1
: to produce a herringbone pattern on
2
: to arrange in a herringbone pattern

intransitive verb

1
: to produce a herringbone pattern
2
: to ascend a slope by toeing out on skis and placing the weight on the inner side

Examples of herringbone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Plus, the classic herringbone design adds a timeless look to any space. Moriah Mason, Southern Living, 18 Jan. 2024 His unit has 3 ½ bathrooms, herringbone entry floors, arched doorways, top-of-the-line kitchen appliances, cabinetry by Bovelli Custom Millwork, bathroom fixtures from Lefroy Brooks and a living room fireplace provided by South Side fireplace manufacturer Atelier Jouvence. Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2024 One of the big wins for me was that the real house has herringbone floors, as did this one. Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 10 Jan. 2024 Finishing touches, like Dragon Diffusion’s straw tote bag and a herringbone necklace from Fallon, are chic choices. Laura Jackson, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2023 There are 13-foot-high ceilings throughout, floor-to-ceiling heritage windows, herringbone floors, and fluted millwork columns. Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 11 Dec. 2023 Banana Republic Olinda Italian herringbone blazer No buyer's remorse here. Porter Simmons, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2023 Tiny glass mosaics in a herringbone pattern on the backsplash introduce soft blues and grays. Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Dec. 2023 This piece is a true blend of style and functionality, featuring a striking herringbone pattern crafted from solid fir wood on its doors. Poppy Morgan, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2023
Verb
The individual condos will have herringbone white-oak floors and large windows. Helena Madden, Robb Report, 17 Dec. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'herringbone.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1659, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1787, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of herringbone was in 1659

Dictionary Entries Near herringbone

Cite this Entry

“Herringbone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/herringbone. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

herringbone

noun
her·​ring·​bone
ˈher-iŋ-ˌbōn
1
: a pattern of rows of parallel lines with every other row slanting in the opposite direction
2
: a fabric with a herringbone pattern
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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