festoon

American  

[fe-stoon] / fɛˈstun /

noun

1. a string or chain of flowers, foliage, ribbon, etc., suspended in a curve between two points.

2. a decorative representation of this, as in architectural work or on pottery.

3. a fabric suspended, draped, and bound at intervals to form graceful loops or scalloped folds.

4. Dentistry. the garlandlike area of the gums surrounding the necks of the teeth.

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verb (used with object)

1. to adorn with or as with festoons.

   to festoon a hall.

2. to form into festoons.

   to festoon flowers and leaves.

3. Dentistry. to reproduce natural gum patterns around the teeth or a denture.

4. to connect by festoons.

festoon British  

/ fɛˈstuːn /

noun

1. a decorative chain of flowers, ribbons, etc, suspended in loops; garland

2. a carved or painted representation of this, as in architecture, furniture, or pottery

3. 1. the scalloped appearance of the gums where they meet the teeth

   2. a design carved on the base material of a denture to simulate this

4. 1. either of two Zerynthia species of white pierid butterfly of southern Europe, typically mottled red, yellow, and brown

   2. an ochreous brown moth, Apoda avellana the unusual sluglike larvae of which feed on oak leaves

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verb

1. to decorate or join together with festoons

2. to form into festoons

Other Word Forms

• unfestooned
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of festoon

1670–80; < French feston < Italian festone decoration for a feast, derivative of festa festa

Explanation

A festoon is a decorative string of flowers that you drape across a room, dropping in curves between support points. If you're decorating for Halloween, why not try a creatively spooky festoon of dried roses covered in cobwebs? Festoon probably comes from the Italian word festone, for "feast," and if you can imagine an Italian courtyard strung up with flowers and lanterns, then you have a sense of what it means to festoon a place. A noun or a verb, festoon can mean the decoration itself, or the work of putting it up. Festoons don't strictly have to be made of flowers, though they usually are. You can festoon with fabric too, or paper chains. Or cobwebs.

Example Sentences

Festoon the sides of the scenery and the ceiling with spruce and flowers.

From Home Pastimes; or Tableaux Vivants by Head, James H.

Fling beauty, grace and sweetness round, Festoon your lives with flowers, But ne'er forget that plainest things Are life's most precious dowers.

From Mother Truth's Melodies Common Sense For Children by Miller, Mrs. E. P.

They are a "Festoon of Flowers and Fruits with a Medallion in the Centre, on which is a Landscape"; and a "Garland of Flowers with a Similar Medallion."

From Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D. by Waters, Clara Erskine Clement

Though they leap all the way the pillar leads, Festoon about the marble, foot to frieze, And serpentiningly enrich the roof, Toy with some few bees and a bird or two,— What then?

From The Poetry Of Robert Browning by Brooke, Stopford A. (Stopford Augustus)

Here, more Curiosities in Mildew, hanging from the Roof; and one a Festoon as big as the great Sausage in the Pork-Shop at the Corner of Bow Street.

From Manners & Cvftoms of ye Englyfhe Drawn from ye Qvick by Doyle, Richard

Related Words

• adorn
• deck
• drape
• hang
• swag
• trim