dirndl

[ durn-dl ]

noun

1. a woman's dress with a close-fitting bodice and full skirt, commonly of colorful and strikingly patterned material, fashioned after Tyrolean peasant wear.
2. a full, gathered skirt attached to a waistband or hip yoke.
3. any skirt with gathers at the waistband.

dirndl

/ ˈdɜːndəl /

noun

1. a woman's dress with a full gathered skirt and fitted bodice; originating from Tyrolean peasant wear
2. a gathered skirt of this kind

Word History and Origins

Origin of dirndl¹

1935–40; < German Dirndl, short for Dirndlkleid, equivalent to Dirndl young woman (originally Bavarian, Austrian dialect, diminutive of Dirne young woman, Middle High German dierne, Old High German thiorna; akin to thane ) + Kleid dress ( cloth )

Word History and Origins

Origin of dirndl¹

German (Bavarian and Austrian): shortened from Dirndlkleid, from Dirndl little girl + Kleid dress

Example Sentences

As always, wearing authentic lederhosen or a dirndl is good for free admission both days.

From Washington Post

Waiters in lederhosen and waitresses in low-cut dirndl dresses weave between hundreds of long wooden tables, shouldering 3ft long trays of pretzels, meat and steins of beer.

From Time

Related Words

• dress
• kilt
• petticoat
• sarong