interlocked-grained
|in-ter-locked-grained|
🇺🇸
/ˌɪn.tərˈlɑkt-ɡreɪnd/
🇬🇧
/ˌɪn.təˈlɒkt-ɡreɪnd/
alternating/interlocked wood grain
Etymology
'interlocked-grained' originates from Modern English, specifically the compound formed from 'interlocked' and 'grained', where the prefix 'inter-' meant 'between' (from Latin) and 'lock' meant 'to fasten' (from Old English/West Germanic roots), and 'grain' comes from Old French 'graine' meaning 'seed' or 'texture'.
'interlocked' developed as a combination of the prefix 'inter-' (Latin) with 'lock' (Old English 'loc'/'locian' → Middle English), while 'grain' came from Old French 'graine' (and Latin 'granum') and passed into Middle English as 'greyne' before becoming 'grain' in modern English; the compound usage to describe wood texture arose in later technical and trade English.
Initially the elements referred separately to 'being locked between/among' and 'seed/texture'; over time the compound came to describe a specific wood structure — fibers or rings that alternate direction — and its associated physical properties (appearance, strength, workability).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a grain pattern in wood where the fibers or growth rings are interlocked; (used in reference) the interlocked-grained structure of a piece of timber.
Interlocked-grained is often mentioned in descriptions of durable hardwoods used for decking and furniture.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Adjective 1
having an interlocked grain; (of wood) exhibiting growth rings or fibers that alternate direction, producing a strong, often striped or wavy surface and making the wood harder to split or plane.
The interlocked-grained teak produced a striking striped figure across the tabletop.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/29 09:08