tartan
/'tɑ:tən/
Definition
- Noun:
- A cloth having a crisscross design: A woven fabric, typically of wool, characterized by a pattern of intersecting horizontal and vertical stripes in multiple colors, forming a distinctive checked design. This pattern is especially associated with Scottish clans and families.
- (Historical, Nautical): A small, single-masted Mediterranean sailing vessel.
Examples of Usage
- Noun (Fabric):
- Noun (Vessel - historical):
Advanced Usage
- "The Tartan": Can be used metonymically to refer to Scottish heritage or identity.
- As an adjective (attributive use): Used to describe something patterned with or resembling a tartan. (Note: This is an attributive noun use, not a separate adjective form.)
Variants and Related Words
- Plaid: In North American English, "plaid" is often used synonymously with "tartan" to refer to the crisscross pattern. (Note: Strictly, "plaid" can also refer to a garment or a length of tartan cloth.)
- Tartanry (noun): The stereotypical or kitsch representation of Scottish culture, often emphasizing tartan.
Synonyms
- Check (or chequered pattern): A pattern of squares, though not necessarily with the specific clan-associated colors and sequences of a tartan.
- Plaid (see note above).
Related Phrases
- Tartan army: A colloquial name for supporters of the Scotland national football team.
- Tartan Day: A day celebrating Scottish heritage, observed in several countries.
Related Idioms
- To be (a) tartan: (Informal, Scottish) To be of Scottish origin or affiliation.
Noun
-
a cloth having a crisscross design
