kilt
Americannoun
-
kilts
plural
verb (used with object)
-
to draw or tuck up, as the skirt, about oneself.
-
to provide (a skirt) with kilt pleats.
noun
verb
-
to tuck (a skirt) up around one's body
-
to put pleats in (cloth, a skirt, etc)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of kilt
1300–50; Middle English kylte, perhaps < Scandinavian; compare Danish kilte to tuck up
Explanation
The Scottish kilt resembles a plaid skirt, but it's traditionally worn by men. Bagpipers and Highland dancers often wear kilts, and you may even see hipsters in Brooklyn donning them. Today men and women both wear kilts, usually held closed by a large pin and accompanied by knee socks, but its tradition began with men and boys in Scotland. You're most likely to see Scots in kilts at formal events like weddings, Highland games, and funerals. The word kilt comes from the Middle English verb kilten, "to tuck up."
Vocabulary lists containing kilt
Western Europe - Introductory
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Western Europe - Middle School and High School
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for January 27–February 2, 2024
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The Ugandan - who was wearing a Wallace tartan kilt in his country's colours - thanked those who had made the multi-sports event possible.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
There might be a yellow and black kilt involved.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
But supporters have commented online that perhaps this colour is a step too far as it clashes with their kilt.
From BBC ● Mar. 24, 2026
Just a few feet away, “The Pitt” star Patrick Ball made a similarly bold fashion choice, posing for photos in a black kilt.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 2, 2026
He was dressed in Greek combat armor—sandals, kilt, and greaves, a breastplate decorated with elaborate sea monster designs—and everything he wore was gold.
From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan
We took into account everything from expected goals to local weather conditions to gigantic parades of sweaty supporters in tartan kilts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
Around 30,000 fans are expected in Boston for the fixture and city streets and bars are gradually filling up with kilts and Scotland tops.
From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026
"Whether the shirt is pink or red or orange, the important thing for Scotland fans is the kilts - not the top," he said.
From BBC ● Mar. 24, 2026
Members of Parliament and British nobles in kilts mingled with reality TV stars like Ubah Hassan of the “The Real Housewives of New York City” and Mary Holland Nader of “Love Thy Nader.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 21, 2025
Their long embroidered kilts had seen better days: The colors were faded and the tassels frayed or missing entirely.
From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
