Technique in which strands of pliable material, often three or four strands, are intertwined so as to form a plait, band, or rope. An example is in textile work, where flat over-and-under oblique interlacing is achieved using the undifferentiated elements of a single set of strands, characterized by the oblique crossings of the elements and their common directional trend. Other examples include in the making of leather items, basketmaking, and in styling of hair.
Source: AAT
http://vocab.getty.edu/page/aat/300053638
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