▪ I. chevron, n.1
(ˈʃɛvrən)
Forms: 5 cheffrounce, 6 chevorn, cheveroune, 7 cheverne, cheavern, 5– cheveron, 6– chevron.
[a. F. chevron rafter, chevron, circumflex accent (in Picard caveron, Pr. cabrion, Sp. cabrio, rafter, chevron):—L. type *capriōn-em f. caper goat: Sp. has also cabriol in same sense:—L. capreol-us, dim. of caper goat, of which the pl. capreoli was applied to two pieces of wood inclined like rafters.]
1. A beam, or rafter; esp. in pl. the rafters or couples of the roof, which meet at an angle at the ridge.
(There is but little evidence of the actual use of this in Eng.)
| [c 1300 Battle Abbey Custumals (1887) 29 Quatuor cheveruns et omnia pertinentia in parietibus. 1331 Literæ Cantuar. (Rolls) I. 368, Xij. cheverones et ij postes de quercu.] 1580 Hollyband Treas. Fr. Tong, Vn Chevron, a Chevron, a rafter in the house that beareth vp the roofe. 1611 Cotgr., Chevron, a kid; a Chevron (of timber in building); a rafter or sparre. 1617 Minsheu, Cheverons. 1692 Coles, Chevrons, the strong rafters meeting at the house top. 1851 Turner Dom. Archit. I. i. 17 Its timber gable, and seven couples, or cheverons, of the roof. |
b. (See quot.).
| 1762 in Picton L'pool Munic. Rec. (1886) II. 240 Fish yards, cheverons, or other obstructions to navigation in the river. |
2. Her. A charge or device on the escutcheon, consisting of a bar bent like two meeting rafters, thus, {logicand}. chevron couped: one which does not touch the sides of the escutcheon; chevron in chief: one which rises to the top of the field; chevron rompee: one with the upper part displaced, as if broken off.
| 1395 in E.E. Wills (1882) 4 A keuerlet of red sendel ypouthered with Cheuerons. 1486 Bk. St. Albans, Her. B v b, The secunde pynyon is called cheffrounce, that is, a couple of sparis. 1610 J. Guillim Heraldry iii. v. (1660) 123 This Cheuron in Blazon is called Rompee, or rather Rompu. 1675 Lond. Gaz. No. 1041/4 Stolen out of the Buttery and Butlers Chamber at New-Colledge in Oxford..one large Silver Pot..and about eleven small ones, all markt with the Colledge Arms, viz. two Cheaverns between three Roses. 1872 Ruskin Eagle's Nest §235 The Chevron, a band bent at an angle (properly a right angle)..represents the gable or roof of a house. |
3. The same shape used in decorative art, etc.
| 1608 B. Jonson Masque of Blackn. (R.) The top thereof was stuck with a chev'ron of lights. 1835 Mudie Brit. Birds (1841) I. 208 The wings and tail are black..the latter with a chevron of white. 1865 Lubbock Preh. Times vi. 169 Incised patterns in which the chevron or herring-bone constantly reappears. 1879 Sir G. Scott Lect. Archit. II. 816 These chamfers..enriched with chevrons of slight depth. |
4. esp. A distinguishing mark or badge on the sleeve of non-commissioned officers, policemen, etc.
| 1813 Wellington in Gurw. Disp. X. 363, I am ignorant to what purpose..5000 serjeants' chevrons..are to be applied. 1844 Regul. & Ord. Army 149 The Non-commissioned Officers..are to wear Chevrons on each Arm. 1868 Times 3 Mar., Constables O'Brien and Mackay, who assisted in the arrest, received chevrons. 1884 Sir F. S. Roberts in 19th Cent. June 1072 No reason why the chevron should not still be given..to mark certain periods of average good conduct. |
5. attrib. and Comb., as chevron-cloth, chevron-form, chevron-pattern, chevron-shaped adj.; chevron-bone, the V-shaped bone branching from the vertebral column of some animals; chevron-moulding, an ornamental moulding of a zigzag pattern; chevron-work = prec. Also chevron-wise (-ways) adv., in the manner of a chevron.
| 1836 Todd Cycl. Anat. I. 569/1 The *chevron bones of the anterior portion of the tail. |
| 1884 Cassell's Fam. Mag. Mar. 246/1 *Chevron cloth owes its name to the herring-bone weaving. |
| 1816 J. Smith Panorama Sc. & Art I. 138 The zigzag or *chevron moulding, which is generally used in great profusion. |
| 1616 W. Browne Brit. Past. i. iv, The Plow-man..Throwes up the fruitful earth in ridged hils, Betweene whose *chevron forme he leaves a balke. |
| 1854 Woodward Mollusca (1856) 87 *Chevron-shaped coloured bands. |
| 1610 J. Guillim Heraldry ii. vi. (1611) 58 Two lines erected *Cheuronwaies. 1864 Boutell Heraldry Hist. & Pop. xvii. §2. 274 A line set chevron-wise. |
▪ II. † ˈchevron, n.2 Obs.
Also cheveron.
[app. an error for cheverel (but Cotgr. has ‘chevron kid’): cheveron in Old French was a stuff containing goat's hair. Sir W. Scott, in his use of the word, probably merely followed quot. 1754.]
‘A glove’ (Jamieson); app. meant for: Kid-glove.
| 1754 Sir J. Scott Stagger. State of Sc. Statesm. 50 (Jam.) Sir Gideon by chance letting his chevron fall to the ground, the king, altho' being both stiff and old, stooped down and gave him his glove. 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. viii, A black pair o' cheverons! 1826 ― Woodst. III. 200. 1828 ― F.M. Perth v, I..am sorry for that poor lover who will never wear right-handed chevron again. |
▪ III. ˈchevron, v. rare.
[f. chevron n.1, or ad. F. chevronner, to adorn or charge with chevrons.]
trans. To fit with chevrons or things arranged chevronwise; to make with a chevron pattern. Also ˈchevroned ppl. a.
| 1543 Traheron Vigo's Chirurg. iii. i. vi. 92 You must sewe of cloutes incoled or cheverned and laye them upon the wounde. 1606 B. Jonson Hymenæi (R.) Whose nether parts, with their bases, were of watchet cloth of silver, chev'ron'd all over with lace. 1851–3 Turner Dom. Archit. II. v. 227, (transl. Lib. Roll. 35 Hen. III) And cover the chamber..with shingle and chevron it [orig. keveronari facias]. 1941 E. Blunden Thomas Hardy iii. 49 The chevroned doorway of a village church tower. 1946 R. Campbell Talking Bronco 45 And Boreas opens out his throttle Down speedways chevroned by the storks. 1960 Guardian 22 July 8/5 White satin appears chevronned with brown velvet. |