tartan Meaning & Definition
What Does Tartan Mean?
Tartan is used as a noun meaning Woven woollen fabric with a distinctive pattern of coloured stripes intersecting at right angles originally associated with Scottish Highlanders, now with different clans (though this only dates from the late 18th century) and some Scottish families and institutions having their own patterns; a particular type of such fabric. It is also used to mean A pattern used on such fabric. As an adjective, it means Made of tartan (noun etymology 1, noun sense 1), or having a distinctive pattern of coloured stripes intersecting at right angles like a that of a tartan. As a verb, it means To clothe (someone) in tartan (noun etymology 1, noun sense 1.2).
Tartan at a Glance
| Part of speech | noun, adjective, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈtɑːt(ə)n/ |
| Synonyms | plaid |
| Plural | tartans |
| Comparative / superlative | more tartan, most tartan |
| Verb forms | tartans, tartaning, tartaned |
Tartan Definition (Noun)
- Woven woollen fabric with a distinctive pattern of coloured stripes intersecting at right angles originally associated with Scottish Highlanders, now with different clans (though this only dates from the late 18th century) and some Scottish families and institutions having their own patterns; a particular type of such fabric.
- A pattern used on such fabric.
- Clothing made from this fabric.
- An individual who wears tartan (etymology 1, noun sense 1.2); specifically, a Scottish Highlander, or a Scottish person (chiefly a Scotsman) in general. A type of fly used in fly fishing, often to catch salmon. A young person who is a member of a Protestant gang in Northern Ireland. Preceded by the: a group of people customarily wearing tartan; Scottish Highlanders or Scottish people collectively; also, the soldiers of a Scottish Highland regiment collectively.
- An individual who wears tartan (etymology 1, noun sense 1.2); specifically, a Scottish Highlander, or a Scottish person (chiefly a Scotsman) in general.
- A type of fly used in fly fishing, often to catch salmon.
- A young person who is a member of a Protestant gang in Northern Ireland.
- Preceded by the: a group of people customarily wearing tartan; Scottish Highlanders or Scottish people collectively; also, the soldiers of a Scottish Highland regiment collectively.
- Originally a trade name in the form Tartan: a synthetic resin used for surfacing ramps, running tracks, etc.
- Ellipsis of tartan-purry (“a porridge made from cabbage mixed with oatmeal”).
Tartan as an Adjective
- Made of tartan (noun etymology 1, noun sense 1), or having a distinctive pattern of coloured stripes intersecting at right angles like a that of a tartan.
- Of or relating to Scotland, its culture, or people; Scottish.
Tartan as a Verb
- To clothe (someone) in tartan (noun etymology 1, noun sense 1.2).
- To apply a tartan pattern to (something).
- To make (something) Scottish, or more Scottish; to tartanize.
Noun
- A type of one-masted vessel with a lateen sail and a foresail, used in the Mediterranean.
Noun
- A kind of woven woollen cloth with a distinctive pattern of coloured stripes intersecting at right angles, associated with Scottish Highlanders, different clans having their own distinctive patterns.
- The pattern associated with such material.
- An individual or a group wearing tartan; a Highlander or Scotsman in general.
- Trade name of a synthetic resin, used for surfacing tracks etc.
Verb
- To clothe in tartan.
Adjective
- Having a pattern like a tartan.
- Scottish.
Noun
- A type of one-masted vessel used in the Mediterranean.
- A kind of long covered carriage.
Synonyms of Tartan
Tartan synonyms and antonyms →Word Forms & Grammar
tartan (countable and uncountable, plural tartans)
tartan (comparative more tartan, superlative most tartan)
tartan (third-person singular simple present tartans, present participle tartaning, simple past and past participle tartaned)
tartan (plural tartans)
Words That Rhyme With Tartan
Origin of Tartan
Origin 1: The noun is an unadapted borrowing from Scots tartan, from Old Scots tartane,[1] tertane, probably from Old French tertaine, tiretaine (“cloth of wool mixed with cotton or linen”),[2] probably from tiret (“kind of precious cloth”) + -aine modelled after futaine (“woven cloth made from cotton mixed with linen or silk”). Tiret is derived from tire (“kind of silk cloth”), from Medieval Latin tyrium (“cloth dyed with Tyrian purple”), a noun use of Latin tyrium, an inflection of tyrius (“of Tyre, Tyrian”), from Latin Tyrus (“Phoenician city of Tyre (in modern Lebanon)”)[3] (from Ancient Greek Τῠ́ρος (Tŭ́ros), from Phoenician 𐤑𐤓 (ṣr)) + -ius (suffix forming adjectives).
Origin 2: Another suggestion is that the Scots noun is from Middle English tartaryn (“rich cloth (probably silk) imported from the East, probably from China through Tartary”),[4] from Old French (drap) tartarin (literally “cloth of Tartary”), from Medieval Latin Tartarīnus (“of Tartary or the Tatars”), from Latin Tartarus, Tatarus (“Tatar person”)[5] + -īnus (suffix meaning ‘of or pertaining to’ forming adjectives). However, the Oxford English Dictionary notes that tartarin referred to a more expensive fabric.[2]
Origin 3: Noun etymology 1, noun sense 2.2 (“type of fly used in fly fishing”) may refer to its use in Scotland: see the 1837 quotation. Etymology 1, noun sense 2.3 (“young person who is a member of a Protestant gang in Northern Ireland”) is from the fact that they were traditionally supporters of Rangers Football Club based in Glasgow, Scotland.[2]
Origin 4: The adjective is from an attributive use of the noun,[1][6] while the verb is also derived from the noun.[7]
Tartan: Your Questions Answered
Is tartan a noun or an adjective?
Tartan is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as an adjective and a verb.
What is another word for tartan?
You can replace tartan with words such as plaid. See the full list of tartan synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of tartan?
The plural of tartan is tartans.
What is the past tense of tartan?
The past tense of tartan is tartaned. The present participle is tartaning.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of tartan?
The comparative form is more tartan and the superlative form is most tartan.