festoon

views updated May 17 2018

festoon. Classical ornament representing drapes, flowers, fruit, and foliage, depicted as a swag hanging in a natural catenary curve from two points on the same horizontal plane, and tied at each end with ribbons. It is light and narrow at the points of suspension and thick and heavy in the middle of the swag. It was common in Antiquity, during the Renaissance, and in Neo-Classicism.

A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture JAMES STEVENS CURL

festoon

views updated May 29 2018

fes·toon / fesˈtoōn/ • n. a chain or garland of flowers, leaves, or ribbons, hung in a curve as a decoration. ∎ a carved or molded ornament representing such a garland.• v. [tr.] adorn (a place) with chains, garlands, or other decorations: the room was festooned with balloons and streamers.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

festoon

views updated Jun 11 2018

festoon curved chain of flowers, etc. XVII. — F. feston — It. festone prop. ‘festal ornament’. f. festa FEAST; see -OON.
Hence as vb. XVIII.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD