Added 9 October 2026
plaid
/pled/ noun
Latin root: pellis Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about plaid at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- A type of twilled woollen cloth, often with a tartan or chequered pattern. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
- A length of such material used as a piece of clothing, formerly worn in the Scottish Highlands and other parts of northern Britain and remaining as an item of ceremonial dress worn by members of Scottish pipe bands.
- The typical chequered pattern of a plaid; tartan.
adjective
verb
- simple past and past participle of play
Origin
From Scots plaid, of uncertain origin; perhaps from a past participle form of ply. Scottish Gaelic plaide (“blanket”) is probably a borrowing from Scots. Also compare Scottish Gaelic peall (“covering, veil, blanket”) << Latin pellis (“hide, covering”), but the OED finds the sound changes problematic.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)