féile-breacan

The term "fèile-breacan" refers to the traditional Scottish kilt, a knee-length, skirt-like garment worn by men. It is a key element of Highland dress, which also includes a plaid, a rectangular cloth worn over the shoulder. Both the kilt and plaid are typically made of wool woven in a cross-checked pattern called a tartan.12

The kilt and plaid ensemble evolved in the 17th century from the fèile-breacan, which was a single, longer piece of cloth pleated and wrapped around the waist and upper body. Over time, these developed into separate garments. Tartans, with their distinct patterns, have become strongly associated with Scottish clans and families, serving as a quasi-heraldic emblem. While claims of great antiquity for many tartans are debated, reliable pictorial records of tartans date from the 17th and 18th centuries. The kilt and tartan remain significant symbols of Scottish culture and national identity.134