Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PLAIT, n. [W. pleth, a plait or fold; plethu, to plait or braid, from lleth; Sw. fläta, Dan. fletter, to plait, braid, twist, Russ. pletu; opletayu, Fr. plisser, with a dialectical change of t to s. Qu. Gr. κλωθω, to twist.]

1. A fold; a doubling; as of cloth. It is very difficult to trace out the figure of a vest through all the plaits and folding of the drapery. – Addison.
2. A braid of hair; a tress.