pleat

 
Pronunciation: /pliːt/

noun

  • a double or multiple fold in a garment or other item made of cloth, held by stitching the top or side.

verb

[with object]
  • fold into pleats: (as adjective pleated) a short pleated skirt

Origin:

late Middle English: a variant of plait. The written form of the word became obsolete between circa1700 and the end of the 19th century