buffalo plaid: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, Commercial, Fashion
Quick answer
What does “buffalo plaid” mean?
A check pattern consisting of two colors, typically black and red, with a symmetrical arrangement of large, equal-sized checks, often woven in wool.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A check pattern consisting of two colors, typically black and red, with a symmetrical arrangement of large, equal-sized checks, often woven in wool.
A style of check pattern, originally associated with wool shirts and outdoor wear, that has become a fashion and design staple, often used symbolically to denote a rustic, outdoorsy, or lumberjack aesthetic.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is primarily American in origin and much more common in AmE. In BrE, the pattern might be described more generically as a 'large check', 'tartan', or 'checked' pattern, but the specific term 'buffalo plaid' is understood, especially in fashion contexts.
Connotations
In AmE, it connotes the American frontier, lumberjacks, hunting, and outdoor ruggedness. In BrE, its use carries American cultural imports; it may also evoke a 'grunge' or 'heritage' fashion style rather than deep historical association.
Frequency
High frequency in AmE (fashion, retail). Low-to-medium frequency in BrE, mainly in imported fashion or descriptive contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “buffalo plaid” in a Sentence
[fabric/made of] + buffalo plaid[pattern/style of] + buffalo plaiddressed in + buffalo plaidVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “buffalo plaid” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- No standard verbal usage.
American English
- No standard verbal usage.
adverb
British English
- No adverbial usage.
American English
- No adverbial usage.
adjective
British English
- He bought a lovely buffalo plaid blanket for the cabin.
- The decor had a distinct buffalo plaid theme.
American English
- She wore her favorite buffalo plaid shirt to the bonfire.
- The new hunting coat comes in a classic buffalo plaid pattern.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in retail, fashion merchandising, and product descriptions (e.g., 'Our fall line features classic buffalo plaid flannels').
Academic
Rare. Might appear in historical or cultural studies of textiles, fashion history, or American frontier culture.
Everyday
Common when describing clothing, especially shirts and jackets, or home decor like blankets (e.g., 'I love your buffalo plaid scarf').
Technical
Used in textile design, weaving, and fashion design to specify a particular color arrangement and check size.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “buffalo plaid”
- Using 'buffalo plaid' to describe any checkered pattern.
- Spelling as 'buffalo plad' or 'buffalo pled'.
- Assuming it must be on flannel fabric (it can be on other materials).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The name is attributed to the Buffalo Check Mill in the 1850s, or possibly to designer William J. Jamieson, who named it after the protective buffalo. It's an American commercial name, not related to the animal's pattern.
They are often used interchangeably, but purists reserve 'buffalo plaid' specifically for the black and red symmetrical check. 'Lumberjack plaid' is a broader term for similar large-check patterns in various colour combos.
In strict historical definition, it is black and red. However, in modern fashion and marketing, the term is frequently applied to the same large-check pattern in other colour pairs (e.g., blue and black).
Tartan (associated with Scottish clans) has specific, often asymmetrical patterns with multiple coloured stripes. Buffalo plaid is a simple, symmetrical two-colour pattern of equal-sized large checks, with no clan affiliation.
A check pattern consisting of two colors, typically black and red, with a symmetrical arrangement of large, equal-sized checks, often woven in wool.
Buffalo plaid is usually informal, commercial, fashion in register.
Buffalo plaid: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbʌf.ə.ləʊ ˈplæd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbʌf.ə.loʊ ˈplæd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No specific idioms”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BUFFALO wearing a red and black PLAID shirt in the woods. The large animal matches the large checks.
Conceptual Metaphor
RUGGEDNESS IS A CHECKED PATTERN (e.g., 'He wore his buffalo plaid like a badge of outdoor honor').
Practice
Quiz
What is the most traditional colour combination for buffalo plaid?