Braidings

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈbɹeɪdɪŋz/

Definitions

1. An interweaving or twisting together of strands or fibers to create a finished product or decorative pattern
2. The process of forming something by intricately intertwining multiple elements, often applied to hair or textiles
3. A technique of interlacing materials in order to enhance strength and aesthetic appeal, commonly found in crafts and hairstyles

Etymology: "Braidings" is the plural of "braiding," a noun that the English language built from older materials. Its base is the verb "braid," which traces back to Old English "bregdan," meaning to move quickly, pull, or jerk, and later to "breyden," meaning to weave or plait. The sense of pulling or swinging strands around one another gradually narrowed into the specific craft of interlacing threads, hair, or cords. The ending "-ing" was attached to "braid" in Middle English, where the form "breydynge" turned the action of braiding into a noun for the result of that action. Because "-ing" can turn a verb into a noun naming either the activity or its product, "braiding" can refer both to the process of plaiting and to the finished work itself. Its plural, "braidings," simply counts separate pieces of such work, such as several decorative patterns or lengths of plaited cord.

Synonyms: plaiting, twisting, interlacing, weaving, cording