tartan

UK: /ˈtɑː^rt^ən/ US: /ˈtɑrtən/ ,(tär′tn)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

tar•tan /ˈtɑrtən/   n. [uncountable]

1. Textiles a woolen cloth woven with stripes of different colors and widths crossing at right angles, worn chiefly by the Scottish Highlanders, each clan having its own distinctive pattern.

adj. 

2. Textiles, Clothing of, resembling, or made of tartan.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

tar•tan  (tär′tn), n. 

1. Textiles a woolen or worsted cloth woven with stripes of different colors and widths crossing at right angles, worn chiefly by the Scottish Highlanders, each clan having its own distinctive plaid.
2. Textiles, Clothing a design of such a plaid known by the name of the clan wearing it.
3. Textiles, Clothing any plaid.

adj. 

4. Textiles, Clothing of, pertaining to, or resembling tartan.
5. Textiles, Clothing made of tartan.

• Middle French tertaine (Old French tiretaine) linsey-woolsey
• variant of tertane 1490–1500

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

tartan / ˈtɑːt^ən/ noun

1. a design of straight lines, crossing at right angles to give a chequered appearance, esp the distinctive design or designs associated with each Scottish clan
2. (as modifier): a tartan kilt
3. a woollen fabric or garment with this design

Etymology: 16th Century: perhaps from Old French tertaine linsey-woolsey, from Old Spanish tiritaña a fine silk fabric, from tiritar to rustle

ˈtartaned adjective