chevron

[ shev-ruhn, shev-ron ]

noun

1. a badge consisting of stripes meeting at an angle, worn on the sleeve by noncommissioned officers, police officers, etc., as an indication of rank, service, or the like.
2. an ornament in this form, as on a molding.
3. Also called chevron weave. herringbone ( def 2a ).
4. Heraldry. an ordinary in the form of an inverted V .

chevron

/ ˈʃɛvrən /

noun

1. military a badge or insignia consisting of one or more V-shaped stripes to indicate a noncommissioned rank or length of service
2. heraldry an inverted V-shaped charge on a shield, one of the earliest ordinaries found in English arms
3. usually plural a pattern of horizontal black and white V-shapes on a road sign indicating a sharp bend
4. any V-shaped pattern or device
5. Also calleddancette an ornamental moulding having a zigzag pattern

Other Words From

• chev·roned adjective
• un·chev·roned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of chevron¹

1300–50; Middle English cheveroun < Old French: rafter, chevron < Vulgar Latin *capriōn- (stem of *capriō ), derivative of Latin caper goat

Word History and Origins

Origin of chevron¹

C14: from Old French, ultimately from Latin caper goat; compare Latin capreoli two pieces of wood forming rafters (literally: little goats)

Example Sentences

Subject has military bearing, short haircut, brought a military uniform or wears the Cossack chevron insignia.

From The Daily Beast

Neither Chevron nor Chesapeake provided information about their expense deductions.

From The Daily Beast

Nothing is sure in this business, but in the Ukraine, Shell and Chevron appear to have doubled down.

From The Daily Beast

There are cotises either side of the chevron which are white (Argent).

From The Daily Beast

A Chevron Or means the gold chevron across the centre of the Shield.

From The Daily Beast

These are very elaborately moulded, the outer sides being ornamented with chevron decoration.

From Project Gutenberg

The arches are almost flat, and decorated with a kind of chevron moulding very rarely met with.

From Project Gutenberg

The west doorway of the Priory Church, with its “chevron” tracery, is a glorious specimen of Norman architecture.

From Project Gutenberg

There is a beautiful Norman doorway in the nave of the church, ornamented with chevron mouldings in a lavish fashion.

From Project Gutenberg

They have no transverse processes or neural spines, nor indications of ribs, or chevron bones.

From Project Gutenberg