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Fair Isle

American  
  1. a banded geometrical pattern knitted into garments using variously colored woolen yarns.

  2. clothing featuring such a pattern, especially sweaters.


Fair Isle British  

noun

  1. an intricate multicoloured pattern knitted with Shetland wool into various garments, such as sweaters

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Fair Isle

After Fair Isle, one of the Shetland Islands where the knitting pattern originated

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Wrens from Fair Isle and the Outer Hebrides remained more genetically similar to mainland birds, showing that island evolution can vary significantly even across nearby islands.

From Science Daily • May 28, 2026

The findings, published in the Evolutionary Journal of the Linnean Society, focus on four island subspecies found in Scotland: Shetland, Fair Isle, the Outer Hebrides, and St Kilda.

From Science Daily • May 28, 2026

Eileen Thomson, director of Fair Isle Development Company, said it was hoped a family could be attracted to the tenancy to help support the school which has just four pupils.

From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026

As Cal tells his former best friend, Isla, her Fair Isle sweater boasts 29 different shades.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2026

I was a living experiment dressed in white corduroys and a Fair Isle sweater.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

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