noun

1. woolen cloth with a woven pattern of straight lines of different colors and widths crossing at right angles, esp. as worn in the Scottish Highlands, where each clan has its own pattern
2. any plaid cloth like this
3. any tartan pattern
4. a garment made of tartan

Etymology: prob. < MFr tiretaine, a cloth of mixed fibers < OFr tiret, a kind of cloth < tire, cloth (of silk) from the East < ML tyrius, material from Tyre < L Tyrus, Tyre; sp. infl. by ME tartarin, a rich material < MFr (drap) tartarin, Tartar (cloth)

adjective

noun

Etymology: Fr tartane < It tartana, prob. ult. < Ar tarrād (colloquial form taṭrīda), small, swift kind of ship