Etymograph

English

plait

Plait comes from Anglo-Norman pleit, and goes back to Latin plectō.

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEplectō
  2. Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400pleit
  3. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
  4. Englishearliest quotation 1705plait

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Earlier history not traced here.

Lineage

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEplectō
  2. Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400pleit
  3. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
  4. Englishearliest quotation 1705plait

Earliest quotation: 1705, Joseph Addison, Remarks on Several Parts of Italy: “the plaits and foldings of the drapery”.

Linked words

through Latin plectō

complex, plexus, 8 more

through Anglo-Norman pleit

plight

through Middle English pleit

ply

Today it means

noun A flat fold; a doubling, as of cloth; a pleat.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Latin plectō / plait

Shirt and support for this word