tartan
a pattern of different coloured straight lines crossing each other at 90 degree angles, or a cloth with this pattern
پارچه چهارخانه
a tartan kilt
Oxford Essential Dictionary
tartan
noun
a special pattern on material that comes from Scotland:
a tartan skirt
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
tartan
tar‧tan /ˈtɑːtn $ ˈtɑːrtn/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1400-1500; Origin: Probably from Old French tiretaine type of cloth]
[uncountable and countable] a traditional Scottish pattern of coloured squares and crossed lines, or cloth, especially wool cloth, with this pattern SYN plaid American English:
the MacGregor tartan (=the special pattern worn by the MacGregor family)
—tartan adjective:
a tartan scarf
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
tartan
tar·tan [tartan tartans] [ˈtɑːtn] [ˈtɑːrtn] noun
1. uncountable, countable a pattern of squares and lines of different colours and widths that cross each other at an angle of 90°, used especially on cloth, and originally from Scotland
• a tartan rug
2. countable a tartan pattern connected with a particular group of families (= a clan ) in Scotland
• the MacLeod tartan
3. uncountable cloth, especially made of wool, that has a tartan pattern
compare plaid
Word Origin:
late 15th cent. (originally Scots): perhaps from Old French tertaine, denoting a kind of cloth; compare with tartarin, a rich fabric formerly imported from the east through Tartary, a historical region of Asia and eastern Europe.
Culture:
tartan
Tartan is a traditional woollen cloth from Scotland that has patterns of squares and lines woven in various colours. Patterns depended originally on dyes available from local plants, so each area developed its own tartan. Tartans were not at first associated with a particular clan. From the late 18th century, Scottish regiments wore different tartans as an identifying feature, and the design of an individual tartan for each clan followed soon afterwards. The most famous tartans include ‘Black Watch’, the tartan of the Royal Highland Regiment, which is black and dark green, and ‘Royal Stuart’, the mainly red tartan of the royal family.
Scotsmen may wear a kilt (= a man’s skirt with pleats that reaches to the knees) and sometimes a plaid (= cloak), or simply a tie, in their clan’s tartan. Apart from those who work in the tourist industry, few Scots wear tartan as part of their ordinary clothing. Men wear kilts when taking part in Scottish dancing displays or for formal occasions such as weddings.
Many Scots consider it wrong to wear the tartan of a clan to which they do not belong, but this has not prevented tartan, or tartan-like patterns, becoming fashionable in Britain and abroad. For some people tartan has romantic associations with Scotland’s history and its wild and beautiful countryside. Women’s kilts, skirts and dresses, as well as scarves, bags, travelling rugs, and many other articles, are made in tartan patterns. Goods sold to tourists, such as tins of shortbread biscuits, are decorated with tartan patterns to indicate their origin.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
tartan / ˈtɑː.t ə n / / ˈtɑːr. ə n / noun [ C or U ]
a pattern of different coloured straight lines crossing each other at 90 degree angles, or a cloth with this pattern:
a tartan kilt
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
tartan
[tɑ͟ː(r)t(ə)n]
tartans
N-VAR: oft N n
Tartan is a design for cloth traditionally associated with Scotland, which has a number of distinctive types. Tartan is composed of lines of different widths and colours crossing each other at right angles. Tartan is also used to refer to cloth which has this pattern.
The corridors are carpeted in tartan.
...traditional tartan kilts.
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
tartan
tar·tan /ˈtɑɚtn̩/ noun, pl -tans
1 [count] : a traditional Scottish cloth pattern of stripes in different colors and widths that cross each other to form squares
• a kilt in the clan's tartan
2 [count, noncount] : fabric with a tartan pattern
