Real Dictionary

tartan
Tartan is a design for cloth traditionally associated with Scotland, and which has a number of distinctive types. The design is made up of lines of different widths and colours crossing each other at right angles. Tartan is also used to refer to cloth whi

tartan in American English
adjective: of, pertaining to, or resembling tartan
noun: a woolen or worsted cloth woven with stripes of different colors and widths crossing at right angles, worn chiefly by the Scottish Highlanders, each clan having its own distinctive plaid

tartan in American English 1
of, like, or made of tartan
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

tartan in American English 2
a small, single-masted Mediterranean ship with a large lateen sail and a jib

tartan in British English 1
noun: a design of straight lines, crossing at right angles to give a chequered appearance, esp the distinctive design or designs associated with each Scottish clan

tartan in British English 2
noun: a single-masted vessel used in the Mediterranean, usually with a lateen sail