mass noun ［usu. as modifier］
1
- an arrangement or design 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, used especially in the weave of cloth or the placing of bricks（尤指织布或砌砖方面的排列或图案）鱼脊形, 人字形（或纹）：
a grey herringbone tweed jacket.
灰色人字纹粗花呢夹克。
1.1
- （亦作 herringbone stitch）a cross stitch with a pattern resembling such an arrangement, used in embroidery or for securing an edge（用于绣花或锁边）人字形针脚。
2
- Skiing a method of ascending a slope by walking facing up it with the skis pointing outwards【滑雪】倒八字形上坡法。
1
- with obj. mark with a herringbone pattern作人字形图案。
1.1
- work with a herringbone stitch以人字形针脚缝。
2
- no obj., with adverbial of direction Skiing ascend a slope using the herringbone technique【滑雪】倒八字形上坡。