Plaid has different meanings in North America and the UK, with the former being a pattern created by weaving or dyeing strips of color and the latter being a blanket or shawl. Plaid comes from the Scottish Gaelic word for blanket and is associated with Scottish culture. In the UK, the pattern is called tartan and is associated with specific clans and families. In North America, plaid is not associated with specific families and is used on various items, including clothing.
Plaid means different things, depending on where in the world you are. In North America, plaid is a shaded pattern created by weaving or dyeing perpendicular strips and bands of color. In the UK, a plaid is a blanket or shawl with a similar pattern. The intended meaning is usually clear from the context. Both meanings are derived from the same root word, and the British English meaning is much older.
There are two ways to make pictures. Classically, the pattern was created by weaving a twill pattern with threads of different colors. The pattern incorporates crisscross bands and thin bands of color that create a bold pattern when the piece is finished. Plaid can also be made by dyeing the fabric, although it can be difficult to create a precise pattern with dyes.
“Plaid” comes from the Scottish Gaelic word plaide, which means “blanket.” The Celts were among the first people in Europe to weave and dye in multiple colors, creating bright, festive clothing that was often a source of comment when people from other regions of Europe visited. Both Celtic men and women wore heavy woolen plaids over their bodies for protection from the harsh, wet weather. Over time, plaid became associated specifically with Scotland, a stronghold of Celtic culture.
In the UK, the pattern on a plaid is called a ‘tartan’. Within Scotland, many tartans are associated with specific clans and families, and some of them have been worn for centuries. Tartan patterns are commonly used on school uniforms, product labeling and military uniforms throughout the UK. Tartan blankets and shawls are also available, serving the same function that plaids did centuries before. And of course, tartans are used to make kilts, garments that are closely associated with Scottish culture and heritage.
In North America, unique check patterns are not specifically associated with particular families, although some people who are proud of their Scottish heritage may wear family tartans. Bright checkered patterns can be found on all sorts of things, including blankets, sheets, skirts, and shawls. The plaid is also associated with some specific subgroups in American culture; many loggers, for example, wear plaid flannel to keep warm in the woods, and plaid has also been embraced by the grunge and punk movements.
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