noun
plait
playt
Plait (noun) means a length of hair, straw, or similar material woven into interlocking strands; a braid. Example: “She wore her long hair in a single plait down her back.”
noun
1
A length of hair, straw, or similar material woven into interlocking strands; a braid.
"She wore her long hair in a single plait down her back."
"Only the hair as it arched so beautifully from her temples was mixed with silver, and the two simple plaits that lay on her shoulders were filigree of silver and brown."
— David Herbert Lawrence, Sons and Lovers (1913)
verb
1
To weave strands together into a braid.
"Her mother plaited her hair before school every morning."
"Her abundant hair, of a dark and glossy brown, was neatly plaited and coiled above an ivory column that rose straight from a pair of gently sloping shoulders, clearly outlined beneath the light muslin frock that covered them."
— Charles W. Chesnutt (1900)
How to use plait
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA braid of hair or material, or the act of braiding it.
UK vs US
In British English, "plait" is the everyday word for what American English usually calls a "braid."
Easily confused with
Common pairings
plait her hair
wear a plait
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Word forms
- Plural
- plaits
- Third person singular
- plaits
- Past tense
- plaited
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She wore her long hair in a single _____ down her back.
Etymology
From Old French pleit, ultimately from Latin plectere, "to weave" — a doublet of "pleat" and "plight" (in its older "fold" sense).
Related words
Rhymes for plait
See all rhymes for plait →Frequently asked questions
What does “plait” mean?
The word “plait” means a length of hair, straw, or similar material woven into interlocking strands; a braid. In plain terms, a braid of hair or material, or the act of braiding it.
How do you pronounce “plait”?
“Plait” is pronounced playt (/pleɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “plait” in a sentence?
Here is “plait” used in a sentence: “She wore her long hair in a single plait down her back.”
What part of speech is “plait”?
Depending on how it is used, “plait” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “plait” come from?
The word “plait” comes from Latin. From Old French pleit, ultimately from Latin plectere, "to weave" — a doublet of "pleat" and "plight" (in its older "fold" sense).
How many meanings does “plait” have?
“Plait” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a length of hair, straw, or similar material woven into interlocking strands; a braid.
