Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Imbrication \Im`bri*ca"tion\, 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.

Source : WordNet®

imbrication
     n : covering with a design in which one element covers a part of
         another (as with tiles or shingles) [syn: {overlapping},
         {lapping}]