What does braid mean?
A braid is a length of hair, rope, straw, ribbon, or other flexible material that has been woven together from three or more strands in a regular, interlaced pattern. The word also serves as a verb: to braid something is to form it into such a plaited structure. Braids appear most often in connection with hairstyles — from simple three-strand plaits to elaborate French braids — but the word equally describes woven cords and the ornamental bands of fabric used to trim uniforms, furniture, and ceremonial dress. In American English, "braid" is the everyday term for what many British speakers call a "plait," though both words are widely understood. The image of braiding carries connotations of care, patience, and craftsmanship, since producing a neat braid requires deliberate, rhythmic weaving. Derived forms include "braided" (as in braided hair), "braiding," and the rarer "unbraid." The word traces back through Middle English to Old English bregdan, meaning to move quickly or weave together.
A length of hair, rope, straw, or other flexible material woven together from three or more strands; also, a narrow woven band of fabric used as decorative trim.
"Her grandmother taught her to make a braid out of strips of old cloth."
In tailoring and military contexts, "braid" specifically denotes ornamental woven trim such as gold lace on a uniform.
To interweave three or more strands of hair, rope, or similar material into an interlaced pattern.
"She braided her daughter's hair before the recital."
Used when referring to multiple individual braids, especially in hairstyles (e.g., cornrows or twin braids).
"The schoolgirl wore her hair in two braids tied with ribbons."
The word 'braid' and 'up' come from the same Old English root — so every time you say 'tie it up,' you are speaking a distant cousin of the plait.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of braid
"Braid" comes from the Old English verb bregdan, which meant to move quickly, pull, or weave together, and it passed through Middle English in the sense of intertwining strands. It shares this Germanic root with related Scandinavian forms and with the archaic sense of "brede." A notable distant relative within English is the word "up," which derives ultimately from the same Proto-Germanic root, reflecting an early association between upward movement and drawing or weaving threads together.
Related word forms
How braid is actually used
"Braid" is the standard term in American English for what British speakers more commonly call a "plait," though "plait" is understood everywhere and both words are current in all regions. As a verb, it takes the material being woven as its direct object ("braid her hair"). In military and formal dress contexts, "braid" refers specifically to decorative woven trimming such as gold lace on a uniform.
Easily confused with braid
To bray means to make the loud harsh cry of a donkey or to crush something in a mortar, while to braid means to weave strands together.