plaid

[ plad ]

noun

1. any fabric woven of differently colored yarns in a crossbarred pattern.
2. a pattern of this kind.
3. a long, rectangular piece of cloth, usually with such a pattern and worn across the left shoulder by Scottish Highlanders.

adjective

1. having the pattern of a plaid.

plaid

/ pleɪd; plæd /

noun

1. a long piece of cloth of a tartan pattern, worn over the shoulder as part of Highland costume
2. 1. a crisscross weave or cloth
   2. ( as modifier )

      a plaid scarf

Word History and Origins

Origin of plaid¹

1505–15; < Scots Gaelic plaide blanket, plaid plaid ( def 3 )

Word History and Origins

Origin of plaid¹

C16: from Scottish Gaelic plaide, of obscure origin

Example Sentences

In social media terms, it’s an aesthetic—think images of gothic architecture, dusty libraries, and vintage plaid, all tinged with a sense of wickedness.

From Time

In their pastels and plaids, an army of West Palm Beach residents gathered on Tuesday evening to litigate a bitter fight engulfing their community.

From The Daily Beast

Nothing pleased her more, you feel, than a plaid shirt or a striped chair.

From Washington Post

Based on his sock puppet, I expected him to be a burly bearded giant clad in plaid—basically, a Canadian Paul Bunyan.

From The Daily Beast

There are young rock chicks and rock-boys and arty-looking men and women, in plaid, denim, ripped and stretched cardigans.

From The Daily Beast

Wearing a plaid shirt, the stocky singer looked like a bricklayer playing an open mic at a bar.

From The Daily Beast

In the back of a limo, wearing a plaid blazer, Quast raises his drink and says with a wink, “you stay classy, Iowa.”

From The Daily Beast

Harry kept his plaid shirt on and danced in the comforts of his own skybox.

From The Daily Beast

When he entered the house he found the plaid cloak, formerly his master's, hanging in the entry.

From Project Gutenberg

You may consider yourself 'geyan fine,' all covered over with Scotch plaid, but I wouldn't be so 'kenspeckle' for worlds!

From Project Gutenberg

We think that her success came chiefly from her writing the verses with a Scotch plaid lead-pencil.

From Project Gutenberg

That which he had called cubical I had never had much doubt of; sure enough, it was a little Bible, to carry in a plaid-neuk.

From Project Gutenberg

In this a man swathes himself, somewhat as a Highlander does in his plaid, pinning it over the shoulder and leaving the arms free.

From Project Gutenberg