herringbone

 
Pronunciation: /ˈhɛrɪŋbəʊn/

noun

[mass noun, usually as modifier]
  • 1a pattern consisting of columns of short parallel lines, with all the lines in one column sloping one way and all the lines in the next column sloping the other way so as to resemble the bones in a fish, for example as used in the weave of cloth: a grey herringbone tweed jacket
  • (also herringbone stitch) a cross-stitch with a pattern resembling herringbone, used in embroidery or for securing an edge.
  • 2 Skiing a method of ascending a slope by walking up it with the skis pointing outwards.

verb

  • 1 [with object] mark with a herringbone pattern: the bog was herringboned with scars where peat had been cut
  • work with a herringbone stitch.
  • 2 [no object, with adverbial of direction] Skiing ascend a slope using the herringbone technique: we learnt how to herringbone up the hills and swoosh down them