crisscross
pronunciation
How to pronounce crisscross in British English:
UK ['krɪsˌkrɒs]
How to pronounce crisscross in American English:
US ['krɪsˌkrɒs]
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- Noun:
- marking consisting of crossing lines
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- Verb:
- cross in a pattern, often random
- mark with or consist of a pattern of crossed lines
- mark with a pattern of crossing lines
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- Adjective:
- marked with crossing lines
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- Adverb:
- crossing one another in opposite directions
Word Origin
- crisscross
- crisscross: [16] Crisscross is an alteration of Christscrosse, a term used from the 16th to 18th centuries for the figure of a cross (not specifically, as the name would seem to suggest, the crucifix). Gradually the original signification of the first syllable came to be lost, and the term fell into the pattern of reduplicated words (such as flipflop, singsong) in which a syllable is repeated with variation of the vowel. This may have contributed to the broadening of the word’s meaning to ‘pattern of repeated crossings’, which happened in the 19th century.
- crisscross (v.)
- 1818, from Middle English crist(s)-crosse "Christ's cross" (late 15c.), earlier cros-kryst (late 14c.), "referring to the mark of a cross formerly written before the alphabet in hornbooks. The mark itself stood for the phrase Christ-cross me speed ('May Christ's cross give me success'), a formula said before reciting the alphabet" [Barnhart]. Used today without awareness of origin. As an adjective, 1846; as a noun, 1848.
Example
- 1. Talk the macroscopical management of area of zoology economy crisscross .
- 2. I gathered all my courage and looked down . I saw the square in the centre of the village . And I saw the crisscross of twisting , turning streets leading to the square .
- 3. Crisscross back taffeta wedding dress ( mlaa0009 )
- 4. Crisscross of stock and corporation obligation .
- 5. Belt of crisscross of inner mongolia farming herd can develop research continuously .