Wiktionary:Word of the day/2025/January 25

1. (uncountable) Woven woollen fabric with a distinctive pattern of coloured stripes intersecting at right angles originally associated with Scottish Highlanders, now with different clans (though this only dates from the late 18th century) and some Scottish families and institutions having their own patterns; (countable) a particular type of such fabric.
   1. (countable) A pattern used on such fabric.
   2. (uncountable) Clothing made from this fabric.
2. (figurative)
   1. (countable) An individual who wears tartan (sense 1.2); specifically, a Scottish Highlander, or a Scottish person (chiefly a Scotsman) in general.
   2. (countable, fishing) A type of fly used in fly fishing, often to catch salmon.
   3. (countable, UK) A young person who is a member of a Protestant gang in Northern Ireland.
   4. (uncountable) Preceded by the: a group of people customarily wearing tartan; Scottish Highlanders or Scottish people collectively; also, the soldiers of a Scottish Highland regiment collectively.
3. (uncountable, chiefly attributive) Originally a trade name in the form Tartan: a synthetic resin used for surfacing ramps, running tracks, etc.
4. (uncountable, Scotland) Ellipsis of tartan-purry (“a porridge made from cabbage mixed with oatmeal”).

tartan adj

1. Made of tartan (noun sense 1), or having a distinctive pattern of coloured stripes intersecting at right angles like a that of a tartan.
2. (figurative, sometimes humorous) Of or relating to Scotland, its culture, or people; Scottish.

tartan v (transitive)

1. To clothe (someone) in tartan (noun sense 1.2).
2. To apply a tartan pattern to (something).
3. (figurative) To make (something) Scottish, or more Scottish; to tartanize.

Burns night is held on this date in celebration of the Scottish poet and lyricist Robert Burns (born on 25 January 1759), and usually involves Scottish foods and recitals of his poetry.