Pleat

Pleat

Noun & Verb · /pliːt/ · a fold sewn into fabric; to fold fabric in a structured way

Definition

A pleat is a fold of fabric — doubled over and stitched, pressed, or sewn in place to add shape, volume, or structure to a garment. Pleats allow fabric to move and expand while maintaining a clean, tailored appearance when at rest. The word also functions as a verb: to pleat a skirt means to fold it in this manner.

Origin

From Middle English pleit and Old French pleit, a variant of pli meaning fold, from plier — to fold. Related to the French plier (to bend), and ultimately from Latin plicare (to fold). The same Latin root gives us words like complex, implicate, and explicit — all centred on the idea of folding or interweaving.