See Also: FATHOM(law)
tartan(dictionary)
tartan(encyclopedia)
tartan(dictionary)
tartan(2)(dictionary)
tartan(1)(dictionary)
fathom(2)(dictionary)
fathom(1)(dictionary)
tartan(medicine)
fathom 1, noun(dictionary)

tartan(1) (iou) and FATHOM (law)


tartan(1) (iou)



tartan noun1 & adjective. Orig. Scot. L15.
[Perh. from Old French tertaine var. of TIRETAINE; perh. also infl. by TARTARIN noun.]
A. noun.
a. A kind of woollen cloth woven in stripes of various colours crossing at right angles so as to form a regular pattern and worn esp. by the Scottish Highlanders, each clan having a distinctive pattern. Also, a chequered pattern like that of tartan cloth, a tartan pattern on Other fabric etc. Freq. with specifying word indicating (a pattern traditionally associated with) a particular clan. L15.
Balmoral tartan, Frazer tartan, Stewart tartan, etc.
b. transf. A person wearing tartan; a Highlander, a Scot; wearers of tartan collectively, the men of a Highland regiment. E19.
c. A member of a Protestant youth gang in Northern Ireland, traditionally supporters of Glasgow Rangers Football Club. L20.
Angling. An artificial salmon-fly. M19.
(Tartan.) (Proprietary name for) a synthetic resin material used for surfacing running tracks, ramps, etc. M20.
b. adjective.
Made of tartan cloth; having a chequered pattern like that of tartan. M16.
W. Trevor Lavinia was wearing a tartan skirt.
transf. & fig. Designating something pertaining to Scotland or the Scottish, or evoking Scottish national fervour. M20.
tartan tax colloq. tax levied by a Scottish assembly after devolution, esp. when causing Scottish taxpayers to pay more than their English counterparts.
Edmund Ward I'm no threat to your dreams of a tartan sunrise.
tartanry noun tartan things collectively, esp. worn or displayed as a mark of Scottish national fervour; Scottishness; Scottishry: L20.

FATHOM (law)


FATHOM. A measure of length, equal to six feet. The word is probably derived from the Teutonic word fad, which signifies the thread or yarn drawn out in from the Teutonic word fad, which signifies the thread or yarn drawn out in spinning to the length of the arm, before it is run upon the spindle. spinning to the length of the arm, before it is run upon the spindle. Webster; Minshew. See Ell. Vide Measure. Webster; Minshew. See Ell. Vide Measure.