BRAID

I. transitive verb Etymology: Middle English breyden to move suddenly, snatch, plait, from Old English bregdan; akin to Old High German brettan to draw (a sword) Date: before 12th century 1. to make from ~s , to form (three or more strands) into a ~, to do up (the hair) by interweaving three or more strands, mix , intermingle , to ornament especially with ribbon or ~, ~er noun II. noun Date: 1530 1. a length of ~ed hair, a cord or ribbon having usually three or more component strands forming a regular diagonal pattern down its length, high-ranking naval officers