Illustration of chevron
- 1 marine staff sergeant
- 2 air force staff sergeant
- 3 army staff sergeant
: a figure, pattern, or object having the shape of a V or an inverted V: such as
a
: a heraldic charge consisting of two diagonal stripes meeting at an angle usually with the point up
b
: a sleeve badge that usually consists of one or more chevron-shaped stripes that indicates the wearer's rank and service (as in the armed forces)
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First appearing in English in the 14th century, chevron derives via Middle English and Anglo-French from the Vulgar Latin word caprio, meaning "rafter (probably due to its resemblance to two adjoining roof beams)." It is also related to the Latin noun caper, meaning "goat," again likely based on the resemblance of a V-shape to a goat’s horns. "Caper" is also an ancestor of "Capricorn," the tenth sign of the zodiac, represented by a goat. The resemblance of "chevron" to "chèvre," the French word for "goat" and our word for a kind of cheese that comes from goat’s milk, is no coincidence, as that word derives from "caper" as well.
Examples of chevron in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Handmade velvet furniture from Italy sits on light chevron timber floors, and Dark Emperador marble decorates the bathrooms.
—
Katie Lockhart, Robb Report, 27 Mar. 2025
Antique chevron wood flooring makes a statement in the suite, where a king-sized bed fits under an upholstered canopy, on top of which sits the lofted bathroom.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2025
Give chevron a chance A chevron motif doesn’t have to be kitschy, proves designer Anne Hulcher Tollett.
—Kathryn O'Shea-Evans, Architectural Digest, 11 Mar. 2025
Flared trousers, leather patchwork, A-line chevron skirts, and a chocolate brown color palette all hinted at the fashion of the 1970s.
—Laia Farran Graves, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
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Katie Lockhart, Robb Report, 27 Mar. 2025
Antique chevron wood flooring makes a statement in the suite, where a king-sized bed fits under an upholstered canopy, on top of which sits the lofted bathroom.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2025
Give chevron a chance A chevron motif doesn’t have to be kitschy, proves designer Anne Hulcher Tollett.
—Kathryn O'Shea-Evans, Architectural Digest, 11 Mar. 2025
Flared trousers, leather patchwork, A-line chevron skirts, and a chocolate brown color palette all hinted at the fashion of the 1970s.
—Laia Farran Graves, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chevron
Cite this Entry
“Chevron.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chevron. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
chevron
noun
chev·ron
ˈshev-rən 
1
: a figure resembling a V or an upside-down V
2
: a sleeve badge indicating rank (as in the armed forces)
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