Definition of plaid
1
: a rectangular length of tartan worn over the left shoulder as part of the Scottish national costume
2a
: a twilled woolen fabric with a tartan pattern
b
: a fabric with a pattern of tartan or an imitation of tartan
3a
: tartan sense 1
b
: a pattern of unevenly spaced repeated stripes crossing at right angles
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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The first known use of plaid was in 1512
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