imbricat

{ } a. [ L. imbricatus, p. p. of imbricare to cover with tiles, to form like a gutter tile, fr. imbrex, -icis, a hollow tile, gutter tile, fr. imber rain. ] 1. Bent and hollowed like a roof or gutter tile. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Lying over each other in regular order, so as to “break joints, ” like tiles or shingles on a roof, the scales on the leaf buds of plants and the cups of some acorns, or the scales of fishes; overlapping each other at the margins, as leaves in æstivation. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. In decorative art: Having scales lapping one over the other, or a representation of such scales; as, an imbricated surface; an imbricated pattern. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. (Botany) overlapping or layered as scales or shingles; -- used especially of leaves or bracts.
Syn. -- imbricate. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Cf. F. imbrication. ] An overlapping of the edges, like that of tiles or shingles; hence, intricacy of structure; also, a pattern or decoration representing such a structure. [ 1913 Webster ]