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Some history on the Plaid: Plaid (pronounced "plad" in Scotland) is the
name of the material which is used for making kilts. It isn't the name of the
pattern on the material, this is called "tartan". In North America, plaid is
sometimes pronounced "plaid" and usually refers to the material - plaid and
tartan are interchangeable terms there, they aren't in Scotland. Dwelly wrote in 1901 under the entry for "fe/ileadh-bhreacain" The kilted plaid. This consisted of twelve yards or more of narrow tartan, which was wrapped around the middle, and hung down to the knees. It was more frequently fastened round the middle by a belt, and then it was called "breacain-an-fhe/ilidh" or "fe/ilidh-bhreacain". The breacain, or plaid part of this dress, was, according to occasion, wrapped round the shoulders, or fastened on the left shoulder with a brooch (brai\sd) of gold, silver or steel, according to the wealth of the wearer. By this arrangment there was nothing to impede the free use of the sword-arm.
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