The word tessellation is
derived from the the Latin
tessera, meaning a small block
of stone, tile, glass or other
material as used in the
construction of a mosaic.
Similarly, the Greek tesseres,
means "four" and refers to the
four sides of a square, the
first shape to be tessellated.
Do They Tessellate? Yes or No?
What Is A Tessellation?
Patterns created by fitting together replicas of the same basic shape are visible in nature and in human design. Examples range from a simple tiled floor or the hexagonal pattern of the honeycomb to the mathematically elaborate mosaics created by M.C. Escher. These patterns are called tessellations.
A tessellation is an arrangement of shapes, closely fitted together without gaps or overlap. “Tiling” is another word that is often used interchangeably to mean the same thing.