: a plaid textile design of Scottish origin consisting of stripes of varying width and color usually patterned to designate a distinctive clan
2
a
: a twilled woolen fabric with tartan design
b
: a fabric with tartan design
3
: a garment of tartan design
Example Sentences
a kilt in the clan's tartan
Recent Examples on the WebThe Life of a Modern Monarch that at the ball, men wear black tie and kilts, and the women wear tiaras, long gowns, and tartan sashes with diamond brooches. Emily Burack, Town & Country, 13 Aug. 2022 The ceremony was officiated by Alvey's uncle, Daniel J. Sullivan III, who also led a traditional symbolic Irish tartan ritual. Glenn Garner, PEOPLE.com, 24 July 2022 The greatest hits—Rihanna’s papal chic, Kate Moss’s golden turban, Sarah Jessica Parker’s tartan Alexander McQueen, Erykah Badu’s glittering top hat, Madonna in a hippie caftan—rank among the best outfits ever to be worn. Janelle Okwodu, Vogue, 25 Apr. 2022 For the dramatic headboard in this eclectic bedroom, designer Robin Gannon selected a classic tartan plaid. Alicia Mies, Good Housekeeping, 1 Sep. 2022 In line with the day’s two-purses-are-better-than-one trend, a tartan Vivienne Westwood bag dangled off her pointer finger. André-naquian Wheeler, Vogue, 30 Aug. 2022 Four bagpipers in tartan kilts marched in train with vintage cars, an assortment of kids in wagons, and an adult in a Captain America costume. Peter Slevin, The New Yorker, 30 July 2022 Tasteful tartan is met by exquisite crystal, clearly indicating that this restaurant was indeed created by the famed crystal maker, Lalique. George Koutsakis, Forbes, 15 Aug. 2022 My spacious room was outfitted in leather and tartan, and had an enormous four-poster bed.Travel + Leisure, 16 June 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
perhaps from Middle French tiretaine linsey-woolsey