Braid
/breɪd/noun
To weave or plait strands together; also, a woven or plaited strand of hair or material.
Did you know?Braid comes from Old English *bregdan*, meaning “to move suddenly, twist, or plait,” a root tied to rapid motion and weaving rather than any occult meaning.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰregʰ-
“to move suddenly, jerk, or flash”
Old English
OE
bregdan
“to move quickly; twist; plait or weave strands together”
Middle English
ME
breiden
“to plait, weave, or interlace; also to move swiftly”
Late Middle English
English
braid
“a plaited arrangement of hair, thread, or fiber”
Modern English
English
braid
“to weave or plait strands together; a plaited strand”