festoon

Picture a hall ready for a celebration, with ribbons, flowers, or lights hanging in soft curves from one point to another. That gives you the idea of festoon. As a noun, it usually means a hanging chain, strip, or arrangement used as decoration, often shaped like a swag or garland. As a verb, it means to cover or decorate something with those kinds of hanging ornaments.

You might festoon a Christmas tree with lights, or see a street festooned with flags for a parade. The word usually suggests plenty of decoration and a cheerful, dressed-up look.

The word festoon has a long history in language and design. It came into English in the 17th century from French feston and Italian festone, which are linked to the idea of a feast or festival. At first, it referred quite specifically to a decorative chain, ribbon, or strip of leaves and flowers hanging in a curve between two points. In art and architecture, that curved hanging shape was a common ornament, often carved into stone or wood.

The word still keeps that core picture. As a noun, a festoon is usually a hanging decoration arranged in a loop or curve, like a swag, garland, or chain of flowers. As a verb, it means to decorate something with such hanging items, often in a generous or eye-catching way. A shop might be festooned with lights in December, a hall might be festooned with streamers for a party, or a balcony might carry a festoon of greenery.

The meaning can stretch a little beyond formal party decoration, but the image normally stays the same: something hanging in curves for show or effect. Because of that, the word can also be used for natural scenes, such as a festoon of ivy or Spanish moss hanging from a branch. In most uses, festoon suggests decoration that is draped, looping, and meant to be noticed.