zigzag

Etymology

Attested from 1712. Borrowed from French zigzag (attested from 1662)^[1], possibly from a Germanic source via Walloon ziczac (although German Zickzack is attested only from 1703).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈzɪɡ.zæɡ/

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Noun

zigzag (plural zigzags)

1. a line or path that proceeds by sharp turns in alternating directions
2. one of such sharp turns

Adjective

zigzag (comparative more zigzag, superlative most zigzag)

1. Moving in, or having a zigzag.
   • 1820, Walter Scott, Ivanhoe, Chapter 16,

     The entrance to this ancient place of devotion was under a very low round arch, ornamented by several courses of that zig-zag moulding, resembling shark’s teeth, which appears so often in the more ancient Saxon architecture.

   • 1912, Zane Grey, Riders of the Purple Sage, Chapter 8

     […] between two spears of rock, directly in line with his position, showed a zigzag crack that at night would let through the gleam of sky.

Verb

zigzag (third-person singular simple present zigzags, present participle zigzagging, simple past and past participle zigzagged)

1. To move or to twist in a zigzag manner.
   • 1912, Zane Grey, Riders of the Purple Sage, Chapter 8

     At the base this vent was dark, cool, and smelled of dry, musty dust. It zigzagged so that he could not see ahead more than a few yards at a time.

   • 2002, Malcolm Yorke, Mervyn Peake: My Eyes Mint Gold: A Life (page 298)

     If the first two novels created a new genre — Peakean fantasy — then this third volume zigzags between several: the Bildungsroman, science fiction, social satire, morality tale and dystopian prophecy.

Adverb

zigzag (comparative more zigzag, superlative most zigzag)

1. in a zigzag manner or pattern

References

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ziɡ.zaɡ/

Noun

zigzag m (plural zigzags)

1. zigzag

Etymology

Borrowed from French zigzag.

Pronunciation

• (Castilian) IPA^(key): /θiɡˈθaɡ/, [θiɣˈθaɣ]
• (Latin America) IPA^(key): /siɡˈsaɡ/, [siɣˈsaɣ]

Noun

zigzag m (plural zigzags or zigzagues)

1. zigzag

References

“zigzag” in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014.