petticoat

American  

[pet-ee-koht] / ˈpɛt iˌkoʊt /

noun

petticoats plural

1. Also called pettiskirt.  an underskirt, especially one that is full and often trimmed and ruffled and of a decorative fabric.

2. any skirtlike part or covering.

3. a flounce or valance fitting around the sides of a bed, couch, or chair, as to conceal the legs.

4. Informal: Sometimes Offensive. a woman or girl (usually used facetiously).

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adjective

1. Informal: Sometimes Offensive. of, relating to, or controlled by women; female; feminine.

   petticoat government.

petticoat British  

/ ˈpɛtɪˌkəʊt /

noun

1. a woman's light undergarment in the form of an underskirt or including a bodice supported by shoulder straps

2. informal

   1. a humorous or mildly disparaging name for a woman

   2. ( as modifier )

      petticoat politics

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Sensitive Note

In reference to a female, this term is usually used for humorous effect, but is sometimes perceived as insulting or demeaning to women.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• underpetticoat
  noun
• petticoatless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• petticoats
  plural

Etymology

Origin of petticoat

First recorded in 1375–1425, petticoat is from the late Middle English word petycote. See petty, coat

Explanation

A petticoat is an old-fashioned piece of clothing that was commonly worn underneath a skirt at various periods in history. The last time petticoats were popular was in the 1950s and 60s. Petticoat has had a variety of meanings over the years. In North America, it's an undergarment worn at the waist beneath a long skirt, but in other countries it's also been used to mean any skirt or a visible layer over an existing skirt. During the mid-19th century, petticoats were used to give a huge amount of bulk and shape to the skirt. As the word implies, the original petticoats were actual coats worn under a knight's armor.

Example Sentences

The daughter of Hollywood heavy hitters Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis, Jamie Lee Curtis first appeared on the small screen in the 1977 sitcom "Operation Petticoat."

From Salon • Jul. 14, 2022

Gilliland appeared in several high-profile television shows including "Criminal Minds," "Desperate Housewives," "Dexter," "Party of Five," "St. Elsewhere," "Operation Petticoat" and "The Love Boat."

From Fox News • Mar. 25, 2021

A book collecting these stories, Petticoat Pilots, has been a labour of love for historian and author Michael Traynor.

From BBC • Feb. 1, 2020

Other shows made there included “Burns and Allen,” "Petticoat Junction," "Green Acres," "The Beverly Hillbillies," "The Lone Ranger," "Perry Mason," "Mr. Ed," "The Addams Family" and "Get Smart."

From Los Angeles Times • May 2, 2017

There was the new French Huguenot church which had been in Petticoat Lane and was now rebuilt in the newly laid-out street below the Maiden's Lane, called Pine Street from the pine-trees there.

From Literary New York Its Landmarks and Associations by Hemstreet, Charles