kilt

American  

[kilt] / kɪlt /

noun

1. any short, pleated skirt, especially a tartan wraparound, as that worn by men in the Scottish Highlands.

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verb (used with object)

1. to draw or tuck up, as the skirt, about oneself.

2. to provide (a skirt) with kilt pleats.

kilt British  

/ kɪlt /

noun

1. a knee-length pleated skirt-like garment, esp one in tartan, as worn by men in Highland dress

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verb

1. to tuck (a skirt) up around one's body

2. to put pleats in (cloth, a skirt, etc)

Other Word Forms

• kilted adjective
• kiltlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of kilt

1300–50; Middle English kylte, perhaps < Scandinavian; compare Danish kilte to tuck up

Example Sentences

This strange customer, known as the Scot, wears a kilt and carries a chrome-plated pistol.

From The Wall Street Journal

The markets already are calling the potential Scottish bonds “kilts,” a play on the word used for British bonds, named “gilts” after the gilded borders on old bond certificates.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Scottish bonds have been nicknamed "kilts" – a play on the word gilt, which refers to bonds issued by the UK government.

From BBC

The invitation, along with its black-tie dress code, left him with a dilemma - where to get a suit or a kilt, at such short notice.

From BBC

There was a celebrated Royal opening in 2004 where I remember one hard-nosed journalist marvelling at what had been achieved by this "dapper wee man in a kilt".

From BBC

Related Words

• dress
• petticoat
• sarong