zigzag

Etymology

Attested from 1712. Borrowed from French zigzag (attested from 1662), possibly from a Germanic source via Walloon ziczac (although German Zickzack is attested only from 1703). Also, possibly from the shape of the letter Z, which appears twice in the word.

noun

1. A line or path that proceeds by sharp turns in alternating directions.
2. One of these sharp turns.

adj

1. Moving in, or having a zigzag.
   His thoughts were fixed on one subject, and it was an effort to him to follow the zigzag remarks of his children—an effort which he did not make. 1855, Elizabeth Gaskell, chapter 6, in North and South, volume 2, London: Chapman & Hall, pages 78–79
   There, by dint of looking closely about me, I found a rough zig-zag descending path notched out: which I followed. 10 December 1866, Charles Dickens, “No. 1 Branch Line. The Signal-Man.”, in Charles Dickens, editor, Mugby Junction. The Extra Christmas Number of All the Year Round, volume XVI, London: Published at No. 26, Wellington Street; and by Messrs. Chapman and Hall,[…], →OCLC, page 21, column 1

verb

1. To move or to twist in a zigzag manner.
   If the first two novels created a new genre — Peakean fantasy — then this third volume zigzags between several: the Bildungsroman, science fiction, social satire, morality tale and dystopian prophecy. 2002, Malcolm Yorke, Mervyn Peake: My Eyes Mint Gold: A Life, page 298

adv

1. in a zigzag manner or pattern