plait
pronunciation
How to pronounce plait in British English:
UK [plæt]
How to pronounce plait in American English:
US [plet, plæt]
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- Noun:
- a hairdo formed by braiding or twisting the hair
- any of various types of fold formed by doubling fabric back upon itself and then pressing or stitching into shape
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- Verb:
- make by braiding or interlacing
- weave into plaits
Word Origin
- plait
- plait: see pleat
- plait (v.)
- late 14c., "to fold, gather in pleats," also "to braid or weave," from Old French pleir "to fold," variant of ploier, ployer "to fold, bend," from Latin plicare "to fold" (see ply (v.1)). Related: Plaited; plaiting.
- plait (n.)
- c. 1400, "a fold, a crease," from Anglo-French pleit, Old French ploit, earlier pleit, "fold, manner of folding," from Latin plicatus, past participle of plicare "to lay, fold, twist" (see ply (v.1)). Meaning "interlaced strands of hair, ribbon, etc." is from 1520s, perhaps from plait (v.).