What does fishnet mean?
Fishnet refers to a type of open-mesh netting woven or knotted into a distinctive diamond pattern, originally designed to catch fish while allowing water to pass through. In this practical sense it has been an essential tool of coastal communities for centuries. Over time the term acquired a second, very different life in fashion: fabric manufactured in the same open diamond mesh became popular in hosiery, gloves, tops, and other garments, where the word now appears most often in phrases such as 'fishnet stockings' or 'fishnet tights'. The fashion sense carries associations of boldness and edge, rooted in punk, goth, and burlesque subcultures before entering mainstream wardrobes. Fishnet is used almost entirely as a noun, commonly in attributive position before the item it describes. Its dual identity — hardworking maritime equipment and provocative textile — makes it an unusual word bridging two unrelated worlds.
nounFishnet is open-mesh netting, typically knotted or knitted into a diamond pattern, used especially for catching fish; the term also refers to fabric or hosiery woven in a similar open diamond mesh.
- Open-mesh netting with a characteristic diamond pattern, used for catching fish.
- Fabric or hosiery made in a similar open diamond-mesh pattern, worn as clothing or footwear accessory.
"The old trawler's deck was piled with fishnet still dripping from the morning's catch."
"He mended the torn fishnet on the dock before the next tide came in."
"She paired her black dress with a pair of fishnet stockings."
The plural 'fishnets' is most common in the fashion context, where it often refers to a pair of fishnet stockings; in the fishing context, plural use is less frequent since a single net is usually meant.
"She pulled on her fishnets and laced up her boots."
The same diamond-patterned mesh once used to haul cod out of the North Sea now struts down fashion runways as one of history's most daring textiles.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of fishnet
Fishnet is an English compound formed straightforwardly from 'fish' plus 'net', describing a net intended for catching fish; both components are among the oldest words in English, descending from Old English 'fisc' and 'nett'. As a compound term it developed naturally within English, particularly in maritime vocabulary, and later extended by analogy to the similar mesh pattern used in fashion fabrics. Related terms sharing the 'fish' root include 'fishing' and 'fisherman', while cognates of 'fish' itself trace back to Proto-Germanic *fiskaz and ultimately to Latin 'piscis', seen in words like 'piscatorial'.
How fishnet is actually used
Fishnet functions almost exclusively as a noun and is frequently used attributively (as in 'fishnet stockings'). The fashion sense carries a connotation of edginess or boldness, associated historically with punk, goth, and alternative styles, though it has become mainstream. In commercial fishing contexts it is an unremarkable technical term.
Easily confused with fishnet
A fishing net is any net used to catch fish, while 'fishnet' more specifically denotes the open diamond-mesh material itself and, in modern fashion, the matching mesh fabric used in stockings and clothing.