houndstooth

noun

hounds·​tooth ˈhau̇n(d)z-ˌtüth How to pronounce houndstooth (audio)
variants or less commonly hound's-tooth
: a usually small broken-check textile pattern
also : a fabric woven in this pattern

called also houndstooth check, hound's-tooth check

Illustration of houndstooth

Illustration of houndstooth

Examples of houndstooth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Kate wore a gray blazer with a houndstooth checked print in blue and tan. — Meg Walters, InStyle, 27 June 2026 What made the pairing apt was the houndstooth pattern, one of the patterns that make up the Prince of Wales. — Giorgia Olivieri, Vanity Fair, 27 Mar. 2026 Pinstripes and houndstooth were printed onto silk chiffon rather than woven, creating a look that was formal, yet transparent. — ABC News, 24 June 2026 Natural light spills onto a wooden floor, his houndstooth-upholstered armchair, the low-slung couch draped with a colorful Guatemalan blanket. — Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for houndstooth

Word History

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of houndstooth was in 1893

Rhymes for houndstooth

See All Rhymes for houndstooth

Browse Nearby Words

houndshark
houndstooth
houndy
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Houndstooth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/houndstooth. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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