Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Tartan \Tar"tan\, n. [F. tiretane linsey-woolsey, akin to Sp.
   tirita[~n]a a sort of thin silk; cf. Sp. tiritar to shiver or
   shake with cold.]
   Woolen cloth, checkered or crossbarred with narrow bands of
   various colors, much worn in the Highlands of Scotland;
   hence, any pattern of tartan; also, other material of a
   similar pattern.

         MacCullummore's heart will be as cold as death can make
         it, when it does not warm to the tartan. --Sir W.
                                                  Scott.

         The sight of the tartan inflamed the populace of London
         with hatred.                             --Macaulay.

Tartan \Tar"tan\, n. [F. tartane, or Sp., Pg., or It. tartana;
   all perhaps of Arabic origin.] (Naut.)
   A small coasting vessel, used in the Mediterranean, having
   one mast carrying large leteen sail, and a bowsprit with
   staysail or jib.

Source : WordNet®

tartan
     n : a cloth having a crisscross design [syn: {plaid}]

Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

TARTAN
     
        A simple language proposed to meet the {Ironman} requirements.
     
        ["TARTAN - Language Design for the Ironman Requirements:
        Reference Manual", Mary Shaw et al, SIGPLAN Notices
        13(9):36-58 (Sep 1978)].
     
        (1995-01-05)