I. (ˈ)fe|stün noun
( -s )
Etymology: French feston, from Italian festone, from festa celebration, feast — more at festa
1.
a. : a decorative chain (as of flowers or leaves) hanging typically in a curve between two points
decorated with festoons of flowers and ivy intertwined
b. : a carved, molded, or painted ornament representing a festoon : swag
around the mirror were carved festoons of flowers wound with ribbon
c. : a piece of fabric suspended or bound at intervals to form graceful rounded folds
a fringed damask festoon for the archway
2. : a usually hanging open loop or curve
the paper is looped over these spars in long festoons — F.H.Norris
especially : something suspended in a curve between two points
between the mulberry trees swing long festoons of grapevines
3. : something resembling a pendent garland
live oaks with long … festoons of Spanish moss — F.B.Gipson
4. : one of the somewhat quadrangular segments bordering the body of certain ticks — see tick illustration
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
1.
a. : to hang upon in a festoon (as for adornment) : drape with festoons
razor grass … hung in emerald loops from branch to branch, festooning living foliage and dead stump alike — William Beebe
b. : hang down from like a pendent garland
blossoms festoon the vine
bearded moss festoons the branches
icicles festoon the eaves
c. : to hang upon or adorn as if comprising a festoon
the old wooden carriages … have passengers … hanging from the sides; the more hardy commuters even festoon tender and locomotive — H.T.De Sa
the margins of the manuscript were festooned with additions and corrections
2. : to form into a festoon : suspend in festoons
the telegraph wires whipped back and festooned themselves round our machine — Francis Yeats-Brown
specifically : to hang (material) in festoons for drying
3. dentistry
a. : to shape (a crown or band) to conform to the contour of tissues with which there is to be association
b. : to mold (the plate of a denture) about the base of the teeth or facings to resemble the natural gum line
III. transitive verb
: decorate : adorn ; also : cover 4c