Argyle

Part of speech: adjective, noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɑː.ɡaɪl/

Definitions

1. A specific design consisting of overlapping diamond shapes that often appears on textiles, especially in knitwear, highlights a characteristic geometric motif
2. This distinct pattern features interlocked lozenges or diamonds, commonly found in specific clothing styles such as sweaters and socks
3. A unique decorative layout characterized by a repeated arrangement of intersecting diamond shapes, frequently observed in fabrics and garments like sweaters and scarves

Etymology: The pattern is named for a Scottish family, not a place or a design. The Argyll branch of the Campbell clan wore a tartan with a diamond-shaped check, and that cloth gave its name to the pattern, which later spread far beyond Scotland. Argyle now usually means a knitted or printed diamond motif, most familiar on socks and sweaters, and the word has come to be used as a noun for the pattern itself as well as an adjective describing things that carry it. The word's origin lies in the title and territory of the Campbells. Argyll (the older spelling is the one reflected in the word's form) is a region of western Scotland, and the Campbell chiefs held the title Earl and later Duke of Argyll. Members of that branch were identified with their tartan, so the name of the family became the name of the check. The pattern's own name therefore records a clan's dress rather than any geometric term.