braid / brād/ • n. 1. threads of silk, cotton, or other material woven into a decorative band for edging or trimming garments: a coat trimmed with gold braid 2. a length of hair made up of three or more interlaced strands: women with long black braids. ∎  a length made up of three or more interlaced strands of any flexible material: a flexible copper braid braids of garlic.• v. [tr.] 1. interlace three or more strands of (hair or other flexible material) to form a length: their long hair was tightly braided.2. [often as adj.] (braided) edge or trim (a garment) with braid: braided red trousers.3. [usu. as adj.] (braided) (of a river or stream) flow into shallow interwoven channels divided by deposits of sediment.

braid †move with a sudden movement; interweave, plait OE.; (from the sb.) bind or ornament with braid XVIII. OE. str. vb. breġdan = OS. bregdan, OHG. brettan, ON. bregða :- Gmc. *breʒóan, of unkn. orig.
Hence braid sb. †sudden movement XIII; plait XVI; plaited fabric XVIII.