Plaid is a fabric pattern featuring horizontal and vertical lines that intersect at 90-degree angles to form variously sized squares or checks in alternating or multiple colors. Common varieties include tartan plaid, originating in the Scottish Highlands of the 1700s; glen plaid, a twill pattern of broken checks in alternating dark and light stripes; buffalo check, in which large blocks are formed by two different colored yarns; and the self-descriptive windowpane check. The pattern is prevalent in clothing, bed linens, upholstery, and draperies in both woven and printed applications.
