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Cobbe Family
term \"station\" on marriage certificate from India

Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

catenary bangs

English answer:

a fringe cut in a curve that is lower in the middle

Added to glossary by Charles Davis
Mar 11, 2019 18:03
5 yrs ago
2 viewers *
English term

catenary bangs

English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature
Hi all,

I have doubts as to the meaning of catenary here:

Her chin fit within the circle of his thumb and forefinger, and copper, catenary bangs flowed over matching brows like the wings of a hovering bird.

That's a description of a girl from a fiction book (Jack of Shadows by Roger Zelazny, a U. S. fantasy and sci-fi author).

Does it mean that the bangs are cut to a semi-circular shape? Like this, for example?

Thanks in advance!
Responses
4 +4 a fringe cut in a curve that is lower in the middle
4 convex or V(-shaped) bangs
3 locks of curly hair
3 -2 necklaced gestures
Change log

Mar 13, 2019 06:56: Charles Davis Created KOG entry

Discussion

Charles Davis Mar 11, 2019:
The hovering bird "copper catenary bangs flowed over matching brows like the wings of a hovering bird"

We have been assuming that "like the wings of a hovering bird" refers to how the catenary bangs flowed over her brows, but it's quite possible to read it as referring to the brows:

"copper catenary bangs flowed over matching brows [which were] like the wings of a hovering bird"

That would meet your point about the shape of the wings, Tony.
Charles Davis Mar 11, 2019:
@Tony Well, he must have got the word from somewhere. And I presume fantasy novelists are capable of using a dictionary.
Charles Davis Mar 11, 2019:
@Denys Yes, we have to guess, because the description is not perfectly consistent.

On the matching brows, which is really the main basis for considering the widow's peak theory, I wanted to mention that although I took "matching" to refer to shape, it is perfectly possible, as you suggested, that it refers to colour. It would not be a tautology; it is not inevitable that her eyebrows were the same colour as her hair; they could have been naturally a different colour or she could have deliberately made them so. And "match" often refers to colour. (Not that it's relevant, but it so happens that apart from a brief period after my birth I have had dark eyebrows and light hair, now grey, all my life.)
Tony M Mar 11, 2019:
@ Charles Indeed, yes... you and I know that; but I wonder how many fantasy novelists necessarily do?
Charles Davis Mar 11, 2019:
@Tony Yes, I think a hovering bird's wings are often like that, but I find it easier to accept that the comparison of the shape of the bangs with that of a hovering bird's wings is only approximate than that the "catenary" bangs form a shape that is nothing like a catenary at all. A catenary is a very specific kind of curve.
Denys Dömin (asker) Mar 11, 2019:
@Charles Davis Yes, in fact it's only another guess (I'd prefer to assume that the writer knew the meaning).

Or maybe he meant something in-between. These ones seem rather catenary-like, though of course not absolutely catenary, for me (and they do have an overflow, which is mentioned in the text):

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/26/3d/c7/263dc7b8684f4a8c1293...

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/d7/d5/52/d7d552e3b82ab5002d47...


And this last one seems to fit the description more or less exactly:
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/67/25/56/6725560501f92b48ca5c2ff9b...
Tony M Mar 11, 2019:
@ Charles Indeed, bird's wings take on a variety of shapes when hovering; but if you think of the classic way we draw 'stick' birds, it is very much in the form of 2 arched curves, isn't it?
Charles Davis Mar 11, 2019:
Widow's peak But could that shape, by any stretch, be called "catenary" (unless the writer simply didn't know what catenary meant but kind of liked the sound of it)? I think that reading, which prioritises a literal reading of "matching brows" over the actual meaning of "catenary", is probably mistaken.

As for hovering birds, their wings can form various shapes; the point of that comparison is simply that the wings are normally a little higher than the body.
Denys Dömin (asker) Mar 11, 2019:
@Tony M Wow, that's something I didn't consider before.
A "widow's peak" fringe would make much sense in my context.
The following looks seem to be very fitting, indeed:

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/SJEAAOSw8cNUP8Lr/s-l300.jpg

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/26/3d/c7/263dc7b8684f4a8c1293...

Thank you for your help!
Tony M Mar 11, 2019:
@ Asker The fact that the brows are "matching" seems to me to confirm my idea, at least in the sense that brows are usually upward-arching; but of course, it could mean something almost like a "widow's peak", where the halves of the fringe both curve in the same way as the eyebrows do.
Denys Dömin (asker) Mar 11, 2019:
@Tony M Yes, perhaps.
It's really difficult for me to imagine what the author wanted to tell here :)

Maybe like this: https://www.hbw.com/ibc/photo/black-kite-milvus-migrans/bird...
(suggested by Charles Davis below)
Tony M Mar 11, 2019:
@ Asker Well, you say that: but if these are "like the wings of a hovering bird", surely that could indeed resemble that shape?

https://gb.fotolibra.com/images/previews/341646-hovering-eur...
Denys Dömin (asker) Mar 11, 2019:
@Tony M I'm afraid that's not quite plausible. That's a fictional world (a fantasy novel), so the current collector would not work here at all. It should be some more or less universal form (of a rope/chain hanging between two points, as I can guess from all the definitions).

In any case it's good to know that I'm not the only one embarrassed by this weird word choice :)
Denys Dömin (asker) Mar 11, 2019:
@philgoddard AFAIK, "catenary" often means just a curve form (though it's definitely from the Latin "chain"):
https://www.britannica.com/science/catenary
From Wiktionary:
(geometry) The curve described by a flexible chain or a rope if it is supported at each end and is acted upon only by no other forces than a uniform gravitational force due to its own weight and variations involving additional and non-uniform forces.

I would guess that this is the most plausible interpretation for this word in the function of an adjective.
Tony M Mar 11, 2019:
@ Asker I shouldn't think it means specifically 'semi-circular', but rather referring to the fact that they are eithe (a) hanging over the eyebrows or (b) shaped like not the actual catenary itself, but the pick-up that connext the current, which is usually a specific shape:

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTx6RBY...

Sems plausible for me as the shape for a fringe?
philgoddard Mar 11, 2019:
It's an odd choice of word, and I don't think it's very good writing because it doesn't convey a clear image.
Catenary means chainlike - maybe they're looped across her forehead or something.
Denys Dömin (asker) Mar 11, 2019:
By "Like this"... ...I meant this image: https://stylesatlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Hairstyl...

Responses

+4
47 mins
Selected

a fringe cut in a curve that is lower in the middle

In other words, what you have suggested.

I tend to agree with Phil here: the writer is trying too hard. It sounds pretentious, and the description is not readily understood. However, though etymologically "catenary" means chainlike, its only dictionary definition a shape:

"the curve assumed by a cord of uniform density and cross section that is perfectly flexible but not capable of being stretched and that hangs freely from two fixed points"
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catenary

This does more or less make sense in the context; I don't know in what other sense the bangs could be "chainlike".

So it's not actually a semicircle (that would look very strange) but a much gentler curve, the curve made by a chain hanging under its own weight: lower in the middle than at either side (though not much lower).

This is more or less the shape often made by the wings of a hovering bird:
https://www.hbw.com/ibc/photo/black-kite-milvus-migrans/bird...

As for "matching brows", this t presumably doesn't mean that the brows match one another (it would be very strange if they didn't, but that the curve of the bangs or fringe matches the curve of the brows, in the sense that the brows curve down towards the middle, though actually the curve is not exactly the same, as your own illustration shows.
Note from asker:
Yep, "semi-circular" was my bad writing, I just meant a curve (should have called it an upside-down gently sloping arch, I guess). As to the "matching brows", my first guess was that they were copper-red, too, but now I see that it would be strange if they weren't, so it must be about their shape as well. Thanks for the hint!
Peer comment(s):
agree philgoddard
40 mins
Thanks, Phil!
agree Piyush Ojha
58 mins
Thanks, Piyush :-)
agree Jennifer Caisley : What an odd phrase in the source text - this seems the most logical interpretation!
1 hr
Thanks, Jennifer :-) Not a very successful piece of writing, in my opinion.
agree Sina Salehi
9 hrs
Thanks, Sina :-)
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you"
54 mins

locks of curly hair

Sugestion
Peer comment(s):
neutral Tony M : Not quite sure how you get from 'catenary bangs' (= the shape of the fringe) to 'curly hair', in locks or otherwise?
6 mins
I imagined a type of hair resembling a chain, since "catenary" is not a word normally used to describe fringes. It was just a suggestion.
neutral Yvonne Gallagher : yes, curly is quite a stretch!
1 hr
Something went wrong...
-2
1 hr

necklaced gestures

Another way to say it: elegant necklaced gestures ran matching browns...
Peer comment(s):
disagree Tony M : I don't know where you're getting 'gestures' from? But in any case, this is simply a non-sense in EN.
5 mins
disagree Yvonne Gallagher : with Tony
50 mins
Something went wrong...
2 hrs

convex or V(-shaped) bangs

I agree with others that "caternary" is far too obscure here. The type of bangs (or fringe, UK) in your picture would be called micro or baby bangs if that short and the arch would be curved or rounded but even up-curved I think as most bangs dip down/are longer at the sides. If cut straight across it is known as a "blunt" cut. But these bangs are longer it seems if they "flowed over matching brows"

https://vancouversun.com/life/fashion-beauty/nadia-albano-th...

So, if the eyebrows are to match the curve of the bangs it would be more like a convex or V fringe or bangs and maybe even with a widow's peak hairline?

convex fringe
https://fashiotopia.com/2017/12/31/11011/

https://www.pinterest.ie/awellman0086/bangs-convex/

Ha! Just about to post after looking up loads of styles and see in Dbox you've come to that conclusion too! Yes, a widow's peak seems like a good style for the context but convex or V shaped I think is better if you're really not sure and/or don't actually have a pic.

widow's peak hairline
https://www.pinterest.ie/pin/562035228488125279/

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 17 hrs (2019-03-13 11:36:17 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

No problem! I thought you were looking for a synonym. "Convex" is fine though "U-shaped" would be better than V-shaped unless it actually has a widow's peak.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 17 hrs (2019-03-13 11:37:28 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

BTW you need to keep it as "bangs" for US English.
Note from asker:
Thanks a lot, Yvonne!
Something went wrong...
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