plait

[ pleyt, plat ]

noun

1. a braid, especially of hair or straw.
2. a pleat or fold, as of cloth.

verb (used with object)

1. to braid, as hair or straw.
2. to make, as a mat, by braiding.
3. to pleat.

plait

/ plæt /

noun

1. a length of hair, ribbon, etc, that has been plaited
2. (in Britain) a loaf of bread of several twisting or intertwining parts
3. See pleat
   a rare spelling of pleat

verb

1. tr to intertwine (strands or strips) in a pattern

Other Words From

• inter·plait verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of plait¹

1350–1400; Middle English pleyt < Middle French pleit < Latin plicitum, neuter of plicitus, past participle of plicāre to fold; ply ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of plait¹

C15 pleyt, from Old French pleit, from Latin plicāre to fold; see ply ²

Example Sentences

“A lot of the critical details in the plot were a mishmash of ideas that made no sense,” astronomer Phil Plait wrote at Slate.

From The Daily Beast

For a moment I was as dumbfounded as the bridegroom who discovers a plait of hair on his brides dressing table.

From Project Gutenberg

They plait it very ingeniously in small tresses, frequently making more than a hundred.

From Project Gutenberg

He learnt to plait the foliage of faded crocuses, and pin them tidily to the ground with little wooden forks.

From Project Gutenberg

The Egyptian jewellers employed wire, both to lay down on a background and to plait or otherwise arrange jour.

From Project Gutenberg

As she began to twist it into one heavy plait, she walked to the window and stood looking out.

From Project Gutenberg