kirtle

[ kur-tl ]

noun

1. a woman's loose gown, worn in the Middle Ages.
2. Obsolete. a man's tunic.

kirtle

/ ˈkɜːtəl /

noun

1. a woman's skirt or dress
2. a man's coat

Other Words From

• kirtled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of kirtle¹

before 900; Middle English kirtel, Old English cyrtel, apparently equivalent to cyrt ( an ) to shorten (≪ Latin curtus shortened) + -el -le

Word History and Origins

Origin of kirtle¹

Old English cyrtel, probably from cyrtan to shorten, ultimately from Latin curtus cut short

Example Sentences

It wasn't just her ivory-white breastplate or silvery kirtle—she glowed softly from within, radiating a warm, comforting light that elevated her physical perfection to something on a higher plane.

From Literature

Clad in a cloud-gray kirtle and a hood as blue as the sky.

From Literature

"Here we go," she said, holding up a scarlet kirtle.

From Literature

I pulled out kirtles, caps, and bodices, the gilded prayer book and a cracked looking glass Gertrude had given me.

From Literature

“No matter. They will horse Bore again in a minute. Here he is, coming to the Queen. Oh, look! He has brought her a kirtle and a gown.”

From Literature

Related Words

• blouse
• coat
• jacket
• robe