plaid

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a pattern of crossing horizontal and vertical bands in two or more colors, often resembling tartan

   The scarf's red-and-green plaid made it easy to recognize.

2. 2
   adj

   decorated with a pattern of crossing colored bands

   She fastened her plaid cloak against the cold wind.

3. 3
   noun

   a length of woolen cloth worn as a cloak or wrap, especially in traditional Scottish dress

   The piper draped a dark plaid over one shoulder before the procession.

Simplified etymology

Plaid entered English in the early 16th century from a Gaelic word meaning “blanket.” It originally referred to the large piece of cloth worn diagonally over the shoulder in Scottish dress.

From Scots plaid, first denoting a woolen cloak or blanket and later its characteristic pattern. The deeper origin is uncertain. Scottish Gaelic plaide has the same sense, but it is generally regarded as a borrowing from Scots rather than the source of the English word.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary