braid

 
Pronunciation: /breɪd/

noun

  • 1 [mass noun] threads of silk, cotton, or other material woven into a decorative band for edging or trimming garments: a coat trimmed with gold braid [count noun]: fancy braids
  • 2chiefly North American a length of hair made up of three or more interlaced strands: her hair curled neatly in blonde braids
  • a length made up of three or more interlaced strands of any flexible material: a flexible copper braid

verb

[with object]
  • 1interlace three or more strands of (hair or other flexible material) to form a length: their long hair was tightly braided
  • 2 (often as adjective braided) edge or trim (a garment) with braid: braided red trousers
  • 3 (usually as adjective braided) (of a river or stream) flow into shallow interconnected channels divided by deposited earth or alluvium: a braided river carries an enormous burden of sand and gravel

Origin:

Old English bregdan 'make a sudden movement', also 'interweave', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch breien (verb)