I. ˈplāt, ˈplat, usu -d.+V noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English pleit, plait, plete, from Middle French pleit, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin plictus fold, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin plictus, alter (influenced by Latin implictus, replictus ) of Latin plicatus, past participle of plicare to fold — more at ply
1.
a. : a flat fold : pleat 1
b. : one of the flattened folds on the inner wall of some gastropod shells
2.
a. : a braid of hair, straw, or other material
in an attractive plait round her head — Atlantic
wick … of cotton strands of good quality woven into a thin plait — T.P.Hilditch
specifically : pigtail
used to have little bows on the ends of your plaits before you cut your hair — Dodie Smith
b. : braided fiber especially for straw hats
a roll of plait
3. archaic : a devious twist of character or conduct : quirk
a simple heart … without plaits and folds — George Hakewill
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English pleiten, plaiten, pleten, from pleit, plait, plete plait
1. : pleat 1
2.
a. : to interweave the strands or locks of : braid , intertwine
his hair was plaited in a queue — Ethel Wilson
flirting her white mane … to draw attention to the red ribbons it was plaited with — George Orwell
b. : to make by plaiting
plait a rug
shoes often plaited from thongs of hemp — Herbert Harris
weaverbirds … plaited their elaborate nests perfectly — E.A.Armstrong
3. : to unite by or as if by interweaving
plait … interrelated events into a clean-cut chronology — Time
swallows … plaiting together the summer air all day — Kenneth Rexroth