festoonn.
/fɛˈstuːn/, U.S. /fɛˈstun/ 1.
a. A chain or garland of flowers, leaves, lights, etc., hanging down in a curve between two points, typically for decorative effect.
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the world > food and drink > farming > gardening > floriculture and flower arranging > [noun] > flower arrangement > garland or wreath
flower-garland1303
garland1303
aneusc1500
whip1513
crants1592
anadem1598
wreathing1600
festoon1610
swag1795
lei1843
wreathage1872
garlandage1885
the world > space > relative position > support > hanging or suspension > [noun] > that which hangs or is suspended > that which hangs between two points > flowers, leaves, etc.
festoon1610
swag1795
1610 S. Daniel Tethys Festival in Order & Solemnitie Creation Prince Henrie sig. F2 The rest of the ornaments consisted of maske-heads, spouting water, swannes, festons of maritime weedes, great shels, and such like.
1646 J. Evelyn Diary (1955) II. 484 A Cupola made of Wyre..so closely coverd with Ivy..that nothing save greene was to be perceived, that made an admirable effect... Twixt the arches dangled festoones of the same.
1712 J. Gay Arachne in A. Pope Misc. Poems 94 Festoons of Flow'rs inwove with Ivy shine.
1787 A. Young Jrnl. 16 June in Trav. France (1792) i. 22 Here..see..vines, trained in festoons, from tree to tree.
1820 W. Irving Sketch Bk. II. 368 Strings of dried apples and peaches hang in gay festoons along the walls.
1941 V. Woolf Between Acts (1978) 76 Festoons of paper roses, left over from the coronation, drooped from the rafters.
1964 C. Chaplin My Autobiogr. ix. 140 At night it was lit up with festoons of coloured lights all round the boat, gay and charming.
2014 Age (Melbourne) (Nexis) 22 Nov. (Domain section) 14 Enter via a metal-gated arch and follow the festoon of roses to the end of the path.
b. In extended use: anything which hangs down in this way; spec. a gathering in a curtain, typically any of several linked in rows to form a scalloped edging.
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the world > space > relative position > support > hanging or suspension > [noun] > that which hangs or is suspended > that which hangs between two points
festoon1798
1798 R. Warner Walk through Wales xv. 209 A most splendid crimson velvet curtain, adorning, with its fantastic festoons, the plain arch in front of the pew.
1847 R. W. Emerson Ess. (new ed.) 1st Ser. 221 Thunderclouds are Jove's festoons.
1887 J. Ruskin Præterita II. xi. 398 The curved rock from which the waterfall leaps into its calm festoons.
1936 M. Allingham Flowers for Judge ii. 32 Her long face with its festoon of chins grew blank.
1985 K. Mitchell A.D. Anno Domini ii. v. 117 These dollops of intense light exploded into a festoon that seemed to scorch the desert for minutes.
2006 E. Eerdmans Classic Eng. Design & Antiques 94 Unlike the early eighteenth century, the hanging curtains didn't simply hang down, but gathered in festoons by pulleys. Pull-up curtains also had festoons, with fixed tails on the sides.
2. A carved or moulded ornament representing a hanging garland.See also festoon and tassel at Phrases.
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society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > architecture > architectural ornament > [noun] > foliage
crop1480
festoon1652
foliation1815
stiff-leaf1851
1652 H. Cogan tr. M. de Scudery Ibrahim i. iii. 51 The rest of the roof was covered in the same manner... The abundance of Festons, of Trophies of Armes, Arabesques..and Chaplets of triumph, gave him a world of admiration.
1692 E. Settle Triumphs London 8 An Arch, on which is erected the King's-Arms, in a most noble Shield, with Festoons of Silver on each side.
1763 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Painting III. v. 155 It represents Flora,..and boys in alto-relievo supporting festoons.
1879 H. Phillips Addit. Notes upon Coins 10 The puteal which this coin presents has on each side a lyre suspended by a festoon.
1963 F. Burgess Eng. Churchyard Memorials iii. 179 The wreath of leaves..was used as an edging to ornamental plaques..changing later from a neatly-plaited roll of leaves to more naturalistic sprays bound with ribands, like the ubiquitous festoon, which shows to great floral advantage on headstones at Hayling.
2009 Victorian Mar. 21/3 The top stage of this tower has..carved stone festoons and cherubs.
3. More fully festoon moth. A European moth, Apoda limacodes (family Limacodidae), having brownish-orange wings with darker markings supposed to resemble the hanging curves of a festoon (cf. sense 1a).
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the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > Heterocera > [noun] > family Heterogeneidae > member of
festoon1794
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > Heterocera > [noun] > family Limacodidae Eucleidae or Cochlidiidae > member of
festoon1794
saddleback1890
1794 E. Donovan Nat. Hist. Brit. Insects III. 9 Phalæna funalis. Festoon Moth... Upper wings orange..with a black line nearly of a triangular form on each; when the wings are expanded the lines resemble a festoon.
1896 J. W. Tutt Brit. Moths xix. 349 The Festoon Moth (H. limacodes) flies in the hot sunshine in July, careering round the trees and above the tall undergrowth.
2020 @_JamieEverett 3 July in twitter.com (accessed 3 Nov. 2020) The first moth caught in the new trap was this rather splendid Festoon!
4. Ornithology. A curved projection on the cutting edge of the upper mandible of a bird, esp. a hawk or other bird of prey.
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the world > animals > birds > order Falconiformes (falcons, etc.) > family Accipitridae (hawks, etc.) > [noun] > hawk > parts of
narea1475
clap1486
arm1575
stalkc1575
festoon1821
1821 T. E. Bowdich Introd. Ornithol. Cuvier 19 A festoon [Fr. feston], instead of a tooth, on each side of the point of the beak.
1855 W. S. Dallas in Orr's Circle Sci.: Org. Nature III. 360 The True or Noble Falcons..are distinguished..by..a slight festoon or sinuosity on the lateral margins of the upper mandible.
1903 Emu 3 122 The festoons may have enabled the Kakapo to retain a firmer hold of fruits or their stones than it could otherwise have done.
1982 E. Ford Falconry in Mews & Field ii. 21 (caption) Beak showing festoon of the upper mandible of a hawk.
Phrases
festoon and tassel: (as a modifier) designating a carved or moulded design of festoons interspersed with hanging ornaments, often found in pottery.
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1848 Jrnl. Brit. Archaeol. Assoc. 4 5 One of the chief characteristics in the designs upon these elegant vases is the festoon and tassel border which so commonly surmounts them.
1993 C. M. Johns in W. H. Manning et al. Rep. Excavations Usk 1965–76: Rom. Pottery iii. 183/1 The rim is carelessly made and everted. The upper zone has a festoon and tassel frieze.
Compounds
festoon blind n. a window blind consisting of vertical rows of horizontally gathered fabric that may be drawn up into a series of ruches.
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1837 Morning Post 21 Sept. The lining of the body is of light blue silk, with lace, festoon blinds, &c., to match.
1982 H. O'Leary Curtains & Blinds i. 18 Festoon blinds should be made with lightweight fabric which ruches gracefully and falls in puffy folds.
2004 Country Life 12 Feb. 49/1 Adding to the overall effect were fringed festoon blinds, made by Gerry Carter of Bembridge Interiors, who made other elaborate curtains for the house.
festoon curtain n. (also festoon window curtain) a curtain consisting of vertical rows of horizontally gathered fabric that may be drawn up into a series of ruches; cf. festoon blind n.
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1708 E. Hatton New View London II. 420/1 A scarlet Festoon Curtain, painted as edged with gold Fringe.
1813 ‘T. Martin’ Circle Mech. Arts 120 Festoon window curtains..are those which are drawn up by pullies, and hang down in folds or festoons.
1899 Westmin. Gaz. 2 Aug. 3/1 The boxes were form'd like Turkish tents, with each a festoon curtain that drew up at once when the suppers were placed in the inside.
1995 S. Parissien Georgian Group Bk. of Georgian House xxi. 209 The basic principle of the festoon curtain was to let the maximum amount of light into the room by gathering the curtain material into the awkward space between the window architrave and below the room's cornice.
festoon lighting n. lighting by means of small bulbs strung together along a cable, and typically hung as a decorative garland.
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the world > matter > light > artificial light > an artificial light > artificial light defined by light-source > [noun] > incandescent lamp > illumination by
glow-lighting1894
festoon lighting1898
1898 Electr. World 29 Oct. 439/2 Next to the festoon lighting the electrical feature of the peace jubilee was the municipal arch.
1959 Street Engin. Feb. 40/3 These poles also have a special feature which allows festoon lighting at Christmas time to be erected and dismantled with little inconvenience.
2019 Taranaki (N.Z.) Daily News (Nexis) 13 July 18 Add to your garden vibe by stringing up festoon lighting, lanterns and seasonal branches from the flower market.
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1717 G. Berkeley Jrnls. Trav. Italy 9 June in Wks. (1955) VII. 303 Festoon vinyards right & left.
1790 W. Speechly Treat. Culture of Vine 171 The festoon vineyards in Lombardy are not less elegant than the above, although the Vines are there trained somewhat differently.
festoon work n. craftsmanship involving the design or representation of festoons; an instance of this; also figurative.
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1712 J. Ozell tr. A. Dacier in tr. Homer Iliad I. ii. 86 (note) They were properly little Ends of Skin with their Wool, which us'd to be put at the Edge of the Garments, close to one another, and like Festoon work.
1811 G. W. Todd Descr. York 26 The roof displays more elegant tracery than that of the nave, and a beautiful festoon work, attached to the capitals of the pillars, is deserving of attention.
1893 T. H. Huxley in Westm. Gaz. 29 Dec. 4/3 I was not over-burdened with love for such dialectic festoon-work.
2003 J. Scott tr. A. Dorigato Murano, Island of Glass 112 Around the middle of the seventeenth-century, the ever-popular technique of filigree was used to develop a new decorative effect: known as ‘festoon’ work, this was used for small bottles, drinking-glasses..and scent-bottles.
Derivatives
feˈstoon-like adj.
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1870 G. Rolleston Forms Animal Life 32 In several festoon-like coils.
1999 C. Souyoudzoglou-Haywood Ionian Islands in Bronze Age & Early Iron Age 107/2 The festoon-like curls on her forehead are a common feature on naturalistic figurines and on painted female representations.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2021; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
festoonv.
/fɛˈstuːn/, U.S. /fɛˈstun/ 1. transitive. To link (a number of things) with festoons. Usually with to, together. Now rare.
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the world > food and drink > farming > gardening > floriculture and flower arranging > [verb (transitive)] > adorn with flowers, garlands, or wreaths > connect
festoon1757
1757 Revol. Modesty 17 Enwreathed with Flowers, and festooned to each other.
1832 Ld. Tennyson Dream Fair Women xxiv, in Poems (new ed.) 128 Clasping jasmine turned Its twinèd arms festooning tree to tree.
1940 J. Elliott Hundred Years ix. 174 They tried to sleep under a blanket tied to sticks festooned together with flax.
2003 Washington Post (Nexis) 14 Aug. t17 The glass harp consists of more than 60 glasses festooned together on a special handmade table with rubber bands.
2. transitive. To adorn (something) with a festoon or festoons; to deck with chains or garlands; (of a thing) to decorate (an object, place, etc.) in the form of a festoon. Also more generally: to decorate gaily; to cover extensively or elaborately.
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the world > food and drink > farming > gardening > floriculture and flower arranging > [verb (transitive)] > adorn with flowers, garlands, or wreaths
wreathe1579
engarlanda1586
garland1593
laurela1627
festoon1769
1769 D'Alenzon tr. ‘Hoamchi-Vam’ Bonze I. 83 There uprose gaily grand an elegant throne, flower-built, sweetly festooned with roses.
1800 T. Moore tr. Anacreon Odes xlvi. 18 Clusters ripe festoon the vine.
1841 R. W. Emerson Method Nature viii, in Wks. (1906) II. 224 Vegetable life, which..festoons the globe with a garland of grasses and vines.
1935 G. Santayana Last Puritan i. v. 64 A gold watch-chain heavily festooning a big paunch.
1980 D. Adams Restaurant at End of Universe xvii. 90 His hands brushed limply over some of the one million rainbow coloured sequins with which his jacket was festooned.
2006 J. Hawkins Deadly Sin xx. 305 Balloons, streamers, and flags festoon the street outside Daphne's house.
3. transitive. To form (something) into festoons; to hang in festoons or as a festoon. Also with up. Also figurative. Frequently in passive.
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the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > types of ornamentation > ornament [verb (transitive)] > hang with ornaments
behangc897
festoon1769
decorate1782
1769 D'Alenzon tr. ‘Hoamchi-Vam’ Bonze II. 213 A rich cupola, from which depended various curtains, elegantly festooned.
1801 ‘Gabrielli’ Mysterious Husband I. 267 The curtains..were festooned up with gold and silver cord.
1811 W. Taylor in J. W. Robberds Mem. W. Taylor (1843) II. 350 We should gladly have festooned for you the last garlands of our hospitality.
1914 E. Stow Nancy the Joyous 223 Gray rainclouds, gathering, festooned themselves from mountain-top to mountain-top.
1956 L. C. Marshall I Alone Remember 253 Aunt Mag wore a gold watch chain festooned in generous loops from neckline to waist of her black bodice.
2015 C. Mayer Charles iii. 116 The Duke of York..arrived in Beijing to find a banner festooned across the entrance to the hotel: ‘Welcome to the Duck of York’.
4. intransitive. Of a thing: to hang in festoons. Often with adverbial phrase indicating direction or placement. Also in extended use.
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the world > space > relative position > support > hanging or suspension > hang or be suspended [verb (intransitive)] > hang down > hang from two points
sag1777
festoon1789
1789 H. L. Piozzi Observ. Journey France I. 236 With vines richly festooning up and down them.
1860 ‘Basil’ Legend of Cosmo 46 The vines festooning along from tree to tree..form an enlivening and pleasing contrast to what we had seen.
1967 J. B. MacIntire Lafayette xxii. 224 He saw a cloud across the face of a peak, a waterfall festooning down a mountainside.
1976 ‘P. Carr’ Saraband for Two Sisters 212 The wall at this point was covered with creeper which festooned over it, almost obscuring the door.
1996 Charlecote Park (guidebook) 23/1 The amber silk damask wall-covering..had become brittle and was starting to festoon.
Derivatives
feˈstooned adj. gathered into or hanging in festoons; decorated with festoons.
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the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > types of ornamentation > [adjective] > hung with ornament
behungc897
behangedc1175
hung1648
festooned1769
1769 D'Alenzon tr. ‘Hoamchi-Vam’ Bonze II. 198 Festooned curtains of gausy Persian, fell lightly over the gilded entablatures.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. xxvii. 205 A festooned curtain formed entirely of minute ice crystals.
1919 Burlington Mag. Nov. 209/1 Each tumbler has also the festooned border so commonly found on drinking vessels of this period.
2019 Shanghai Daily (Nexis) 30 Apr. A parade featuring festooned vehicles was held in the morning as the park welcomed the first group of visitors.
feˈstooning n. and adj.
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the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > types of ornamentation > [noun] > other methods of ornamentation
grailing1502
studding1599
festooning1806
1806 Philos. Mag. 26 312 They are very large, and entirely similar to those of Siberia by the straightness and the small degree of festooning in the lamina of the enamel.
1822 Drama Apr. 298 Bound with festooning scarves.
1876 ‘M. Twain’ Adventures Tom Sawyer xiii. 118 Foliage and festooning vines.
1977 Auk 94 637 The same nearby perch..becomes worn and conspicuously free of the festooning mosses found on all the other branches.
2019 Great Lakes Advocate (Nexis) 19 Feb. Kim MacDonald achieved the festooning of the foyer ceiling with fairy lights.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2021; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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