What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Plaid vs Checker - What's the difference?

plaid | checker |

As nouns the difference between plaid and checker

is that plaid is a type of twilled woollen cloth, often with a tartan or chequered pattern while checker is one who checks something.

As verbs the difference between plaid and checker

is that plaid is past tense of play while checker is to mark in a pattern of alternating light and dark spots, like a checkerboard.

As an adjective plaid

is having a pattern or colors which resemble a Scottish tartan; checkered or marked with bars or stripes at right angles to one another.

plaid

English

(wikipedia plaid)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) plaid, of uncertain origin; perhaps from a past participle form of (ply). Scottish Gaelic is probably a borrowing from Scots.

Noun

(en noun)
  • A type of twilled woollen cloth, often with a tartan or chequered pattern.
  • *
  • *:It was April 22, 1831, and a young man was walking down Whitehall in the direction of Parliament Street. He wore shepherd's plaid trousers and the swallow-tail coat of the day, with a figured muslin cravat wound about his wide-spread collar.
  • A length of such material used as a piece of clothing, formerly worn in the Scottish Highlands and other parts of northern Britain and remaining as an item of ceremonial dress worn by members of Scottish pipe bands.
  • *2009 , , Glencoe , Amberley 2009, p.47:
  • *:In battle, the plaid was customarily shrugged off before the charge bit home, and the warrior came into contact with only his long, saffron shirt (‘leine chrochach ’) to preserve modesty.
  • The typical chequered pattern of a plaid; tartan.
  • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Having a pattern or colors which resemble a Scottish tartan; checkered or marked with bars or stripes at right angles to one another.
  • Etymology 2

    Alternative forms.

    Verb

    (head)
  • (archaic) (play)
  • * 1774, Dr Samuel Johnson, Preface to the Works of the English Poets , J. Nichols, Volume II, Page 134,
  • "...then plaid on the organ, and sung..."
    ----

    checker

    English

    Alternative forms

    * chequer

    Etymology 1

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who checks something.
  • The clerk who tallies cost of purchases and accepts payment.
  • ''There was a long line at the grocery store because the checker was so slow.

    Etymology 2

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A playing piece in the game of checkers (British: draughts).
  • Derived terms
    * checkerboard

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To mark in a pattern of alternating light and dark spots, like a checkerboard.
  • To develop markings in a pattern of alternating light and dark spots, like a checkerboard.
  • Etymology 3

    Alteration of (chequer)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The fruit of the wild service tree or chequer tree,
  • Usage notes
    * Almost always spelled chequer, because the tree itself is native to areas where that spelling is used, and is pretty much unknown in areas that use the other spelling.
    Derived terms
    * checkerberry

    Anagrams

    * ----