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Definition of plait - 5 dictionary results

plait

  [pleyt, plat]
Use plait in a Sentence
–noun
1. a braid, esp. of hair or straw.
2. a pleat or fold, as of cloth.
–verb (used with object)
3. to braid, as hair or straw.
4. to make, as a mat, by braiding.
5. to pleat.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME pleyt < MF pleit < L plicitum, neut. of plicitus, ptp. of plicāre to fold; see ply 2

pleat

  [pleet]
–noun
1. a fold of definite, even width made by doubling cloth or the like upon itself and pressing or stitching it in place.
–verb (used with object)
2. to fold or arrange in pleats.
Also, plait.

Origin:
1325–75; ME; var. of plait

Related forms:
pleater, noun
pleatless, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To plait
plait   (plāt, plāt)   
n.  

  1. A braid, especially of hair.

  2. A pleat.

tr.v.   plait·ed, plait·ing, plaits

  1. To braid.

  2. To pleat.

  3. To make by braiding.


[Middle English pleit, fold, braid, possibly from pleiten, to fold, braid, alteration (influenced by Old French pleit, fold) of Old French plier, pleiir, from Latin plicāre, to fold; see plek- in Indo-European roots.]
plait'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

plait  (v.)
1377, "to fold, gather in pleats," from O.Fr. pleir "to fold," from L. plicare "to fold." The noun meaning "a fold, a crease" is attested from c.1400, from Anglo-Fr. pleit, O.Fr. pleit, ploit "fold, manner of folding," from L. plicatus, neuter pp. of plicare (see ply (v.)). Meaning "interlaced strands of hair, ribbon, etc." is from 1530.

pleat 
1570, used as the verb version of plait (q.v.). Later (1581) as a noun.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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