tartan

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“
It would be the height of folly to leave her in her present moorings; without loss of time she must be brought round to the mouth of the Shelif, in immediate proximity to the Russian yacht The consciousness that his tartan was the subject of discussion made the Jew give way to such vehement ejaculations of anxiety, that Servadac turned round and peremptorily ordered him to desist from his clamor.

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Definitions (16)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (4)

  1. noun Any of numerous textile patterns consisting of stripes of varying widths and colors crossed at right angles against a solid background, each forming a distinctive design worn by the members of a Scottish clan.
  2. noun A twilled wool fabric or garment having such a pattern.
  3. noun A plaid fabric.
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Examples (50)

  • Captain Foley is justifiable in taking the French tartan, although she was going into the port, or even in the port. —  The Life of the Right Honourable Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson, Vol. II
  • She could feel the warmth of his skin beneath the worn tartan, the dizzying thud of his heart against her palm. —  A WHISPER OF ROSES - TERESA MEDEIROS
  • However, you can add touches of tartan to your dress - tartan ribbons on your bouquet, tartan trimmings, tartan shawl, or a tartan waist sash. —  BeanRocket Blog Communities Lastest Posts
  • They come in different colors, resize scripted, and tartan are my favs, but you will end up doing what i did: getting a full pack! —  Fashion World of SL
  • The tartan is available in the form of kilts, tartan trousers, waistcoats, ladies skirts, plaids and even upholstery at Kilts by Lindsay, which is based in Deanswood Park, Deans,
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Etymologies (4)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (2)

  1. Middle English tartane, possibly from Old French tiretaine, linsey-woolsey, probably from tiret, a kind of cloth, from tire, silk cloth, from Latin Tyrius, Tyrian (cloth), from Tyrus, Tyre.
  2. French tartane, from Provençal tartano, from Old Provençal tartana, buzzard, of imitative origin.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (2)

  1. Formerly tartane; = Middle Dutch tireteyn, tiereteyn, Dutch tiretijn, from French tiretaine, tirtaine, dial. (Genevese) tredaine, tridaine, tartan (“linsie-woolsie,” Cotgrave), from Spanish tiritaña, a sort of thin silk, a thin woolen cloth, prob. so lled from its flimsiness, from tiritar, tremble, shiver.
  2. Formerly also tartane; from French tartane = Spanish Portuguese Italian tartana, a vessel so called; prob., with orig. adjective termination, from Middle Latin tarta (cf. French taride = Provencal Spanish tarida, from Middle Latin tarida, tareta, other forms of tarta) = Middle Greek ταρίδες, ταρίτης, from Arabic taridah, a kind of vessel specially adapted for transporting horses.
 

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/ˈtɑrtən/
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