today "tartan" is generally used to describe the pattern, not limited to textiles. in north america the term "plaid" is commonly used to describe "tartan". the word "plaid", derived from the scottish gaelic "", meaning "blanket", was first used of any rectangular garment, sometimes made up of tartan, particularly that which preceded the modern kilt (see: belted plaid). in time, "plaid" was used to describe blankets themselves.