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plait

noun

  1. fold in the columella of a gastropod mollusc
L325551 on Wikidata ↗

verb

  1. to braid or intertwine
L332522 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /pleɪt/ / /plæt/

noun

Etymology: From Middle English pleit, from Anglo-Norman pleit (compare Old French ploit), from Latin plectō, which is akin to Old Norse flétta (Danish flette), Russian плести́ (plestí) and also to Old English fleohtan, which it displaced. Doublet of plight (“plait, fold”) and pleat.

  1. A flat fold; a doubling, as of cloth; a pleat.

    a box plait

    the plaits and foldings of the drapery

  2. A braid, as of hair or straw; a plat.

    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.

verb

Etymology: From Middle English pleit, from Anglo-Norman pleit (compare Old French ploit), from Latin plectō, which is akin to Old Norse flétta (Danish flette), Russian плести́ (plestí) and also to Old English fleohtan, which it displaced. Doublet of plight (“plait, fold”) and pleat.

  1. To fold; to double in narrow folds; to pleat

    to plait a ruffle

  2. To interweave the strands or locks of; to braid

    to plait hair

    plaiting rope