plaid
- Noun:
- A fabric pattern consisting of crossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colors: "Plaid" primarily refers to the distinctive crisscross design, often associated with Scottish tartans.
- A long piece of cloth, often with this pattern, worn over the shoulder: It can also denote a garment, specifically a rectangular woolen cloth worn as part of traditional Scottish Highland dress.
- Cloth woven with this pattern: The term can refer to the material itself that features the plaid design.
Noun (Pattern): The sofa was upholstered in a bright red and green plaid. He prefers shirts with a simple plaid over solid colors.
Noun (Garment): The Highland dancer adjusted his plaid before the performance. In historical portraits, clan chiefs are often depicted wearing a plaid.
Noun (Material): She bought three yards of woolen plaid to make a skirt. This heavy plaid is perfect for a winter coat.
- "In plaid": Describing something made from or covered with plaid fabric.
- Tartan (n): A specific type of plaid pattern that is associated with a Scottish clan or family. While all tartans are plaids, not all plaids are specific, registered tartans.
- Check (n): A pattern of squares, often simpler (like graph paper) compared to the more complex, multi-colored bands of a plaid.
- Tartan (n): (As above) A patterned cloth representing a Scottish clan.
It is important to distinguish between the general pattern (plaid) and the specific cultural garment. In modern usage, especially in North America, "plaid" is commonly used to describe the crisscross pattern on shirts, fabrics, and other items, separate from its traditional Scottish context. The word "tartan" is more precise when referring to the specific clan-associated patterns of Scotland.
-
a cloth having a crisscross design
