herring-bone

The tailor uses a herring-bone stitch to mend the wool jacket.

Definition

1. Noun:

   • A type of stitch or pattern: "herring-bone" refers to a distinctive zigzag pattern resembling the skeleton of a herring fish, used in sewing, embroidery, or masonry.
   • A technique in skiing: In sports, "herring-bone" describes a method of climbing a slope on skis by pointing the tips outward and walking in a V-shaped pattern.

2. Verb:

   • To arrange in a herring-bone pattern: To stitch, sew, or lay material (such as bricks, tiles, or fabric) in a zigzag formation.
   • To ski using the herring-bone technique: To ascend a hill on skis by stepping with the skis angled outward.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The tailor used a herring-bone stitch to reinforce the jacket's seams. (A specific zigzag sewing stitch.)
  • The floor was laid in a herring-bone pattern, with bricks placed at 45-degree angles. (A decorative arrangement in construction.)

• Verb:

  • She herring-boned the fabric to create a decorative edge on the quilt. (She stitched in a zigzag pattern.)
  • The skiers herring-boned up the steep slope to reach the summit. (They climbed using the V-shaped skiing technique.)

Advanced Usage

• "To lay herring-bone": to arrange bricks, tiles, or wood in a zigzag pattern for aesthetic or structural reasons.

  • The mason laid the bricks in a herring-bone pattern to increase the wall's strength. (A specific masonry technique.)

• "Herring-bone gear": In mechanics, a type of gear with V-shaped teeth that reduces noise and vibration.

  • The engine used herring-bone gears for smoother operation. (Gears with a zigzag tooth design.)

Variants and Related Words

• Herring-bone stitch (n): a specific embroidery or sewing stitch forming a zigzag line.

  • The embroidery featured a delicate herring-bone stitch along the edge. (A decorative needlework technique.)

• Herring-bone pattern (n): the visual design of repeated V-shapes, used in textiles, flooring, or architecture.

  • The parquet floor displayed an elegant herring-bone pattern. (A repeating V-shaped arrangement.)

Synonyms

• Zigzag pattern: a design with sharp turns in alternating directions.
• Chevron pattern: a V-shaped pattern, often similar but not identical to herring-bone (chevron has continuous V-shapes; herring-bone has staggered segments).

Phrasal Verbs

• Herring-bone up: to ascend a slope using the herring-bone skiing technique.
  • They herring-boned up the icy trail to avoid slipping. (They climbed with skis angled outward.)

Related Idioms

• Herring-bone effect: a visual or structural outcome resembling a herring-bone pattern.
  • The herring-bone effect of the brickwork gave the wall a classic look. (The arrangement created a distinctive appearance.)