washboarding

Noun

washboarding (usually uncountable, plural washboardings)

1. (usually) The appearance of ripples or bumps on a dirt or gravel road, caused by wear from traffic, erosion, or poor grading.
   • According to the road crew, two forms of road surface damage are common to this haul route — washboarding and potholing.1988, Deborah J. Taylor, National Central Tire Inflation Program
   • As the surface aged with traffic, the washboarding decreased in severity.1990, Harold W. Muncy, Asphalt Emulsions - Issue 1079, →ISBN, page 67

   Synonyms:

   corrugation

2. (usually) A streaky appearance on solid patches of color printed on corrugated materials, resulting from the uneven pressure exerted due to corrugations.
   • When postprinting, washboarding influences the printability. Washboarding depends mainly on the distance between the flute tips ...1987, Paper Technology and Industry - Volumes 28-29, page 267
   • The flute tips and the buckling or washboarding between the flutes tips can be seen easily.2005, Tappi Journal - Volume 4, page 7
3. (usually, bees) An unexplained behavior in which bees move across the surface of their hive with a rocking motion.
   • The behavior shown here is washboarding.2010, Malcolm T. Sanford, Richard E. Bonney, Storey's Guide to Keeping Honey Bees, →ISBN, page 64
   • He then ran the images back in slow motion. They resembled the “washboarding” of bees, a herringboning, a shimmy.2013, Barry Werth, The Billion-Dollar Molecule: The Quest for the Perfect Drug, →ISBN, page 322