plaid

Meanings

Noun

  • A type of twilled woollen cloth, often with a tartan or chequered pattern.
  • A length of such material used as a piece of clothing, formerly worn in the Scottish Highlands and other parts of northern Britain and remaining as an item of ceremonial dress worn by members of Scottish pipe bands.
  • The typical chequered pattern of a plaid; tartan.

Adjective

  • Having a pattern or colors which resemble a Scottish tartan; checkered or marked with bars or stripes at right angles to one another.

Verb

Origin

  • From Scots plaid, of uncertain origin; perhaps from a past participle form of ply. Scottish Gaelic plaide ("blanket") is probably a borrowing from Scots.
  • Also compare Scottish Gaelic peall ("covering, veil, blanket") << Latin pellis ("hide, covering"), but the OED finds the sound changes problematic.
  • Alternative forms.

Modern English dictionary

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