hound's-tooth check: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal to Neutral (primarily in fashion, textiles, design contexts)
Quick answer
What does “hound's-tooth check” mean?
A duotone textile pattern characterized by broken or jagged checks, traditionally in black and white, resembling a canine tooth.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A duotone textile pattern characterized by broken or jagged checks, traditionally in black and white, resembling a canine tooth.
A classic, often monochrome, broken check pattern used in fabrics, particularly for suiting, jackets, and accessories, associated with traditional, preppy, or country-style fashion. It is often seen as more dynamic and textured than a regular check.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The hyphenated form ('hound's-tooth') may be slightly more common in older British texts, while 'houndstooth' as a solid compound is standard in modern fashion contexts in both regions.
Connotations
In both regions, it connotes classic style, tradition, and often a certain academic or country elegance (e.g., associated with tweed jackets).
Frequency
The term is of comparable frequency in fashion/design discourse in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “hound's-tooth check” in a Sentence
[fabric/material] in a houndstooth checka [garment] with a houndstooth patternthe distinctive houndstooth of the blazerVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hound's-tooth check” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- She wore a very smart houndstooth trouser suit to the interview.
- The upholstery featured a muted, brown houndstooth design.
American English
- He bought a classic houndstooth sport coat for the fall season.
- The fashion editor praised the designer's modern take on houndstooth.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in retail, fashion manufacturing, and marketing to describe product patterns (e.g., 'Our autumn line features a premium houndstooth wool').
Academic
Rare, except in specific studies of textile history, design, or semiotics of fashion.
Everyday
Used when discussing clothing, fashion choices, or interior design fabrics (e.g., 'Do you think this houndstooth skirt is too bold for the office?').
Technical
A specific weave structure in textile manufacturing; can be analyzed by its thread count and repeat pattern.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hound's-tooth check”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hound's-tooth check”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hound's-tooth check”
- Misspelling: 'hounds tooth', 'houndstooth check' (redundant, as 'houndstooth' implies the check).
- Using it to describe color instead of pattern (e.g., 'a houndstooth blue' is incorrect).
- Confusing it with 'herringbone', which is a V-shaped pattern, not a check.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'dogstooth' is a common synonym, especially in British English. 'Puppytooth' refers to a smaller-scale version of the same pattern.
Absolutely. While the classic is black and white, houndstooth is defined by its pattern, not its colour. It is commonly produced in brown/beige, navy/white, grey/white, and various other colour combinations.
They are related but distinct. Glen plaid (or Prince of Wales check) is a more complex pattern that often incorporates a houndstooth motif as one of its elements within a larger windowpane check structure.
It is versatile. In tailored clothing (blazers, suits), it is suitable for business-casual to formal settings depending on scale and colour. In accessories (scarves, hats) or casual separates, it is widely acceptable. Its traditional roots make it a staple in autumn/winter and country-style wardrobes.
A duotone textile pattern characterized by broken or jagged checks, traditionally in black and white, resembling a canine tooth.
Hound's-tooth check is usually formal to neutral (primarily in fashion, textiles, design contexts) in register.
Hound's-tooth check: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhaʊndz.tuːθ ˌtʃɛk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhaʊndz.tuːθ ˌtʃɛk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated. It is a descriptive term, not an idiom.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a **hound** (dog) with sharp **teeth**. The pattern looks like the jagged outline of those teeth arranged in a broken **check**erboard.
Conceptual Metaphor
PATTERN IS A TEXTURE (of tradition/erudition). The broken check metaphorically represents a shattered or deconstructed grid, suggesting dynamic classicism.
Practice
Quiz
What is the defining visual characteristic of a houndstooth check?