kilt

[ kilt ]

noun

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

verb (used with object)

1. to draw or tuck up, as the skirt, about oneself.
2. to provide (a skirt) with kilt pleats.

kilt

/ kɪlt /

noun

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

verb

1. to tuck (a skirt) up around one's body
2. to put pleats in (cloth, a skirt, etc)

Derived Forms

• ˈkilted, adjective
• ˈkiltˌlike, adjective

Other Word Forms

• kiltlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of kilt¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of kilt¹

C18: of Scandinavian origin; compare Danish kilte to tuck up, Old Swedish kilta lap

Example Sentences

The King was in a kilt and tweed jacket while the Queen wore a blue coat with a tartan lapel and a red hat decorated with a feather.

From BBC

A photograph taken in 1966 to mark the 18th birthday of Prince Charles shows him dressed in a kilt in Balmoral tartan in the library of the castle, and was taken by Godfrey Argent.

From BBC

Tennant, a Scotsman who wears a kilt with glorious swagger, was born for the role.

From Los Angeles Times

A new photograph of King Charles in a tartan kilt at Balmoral Castle has been released to mark Burns Night.

From BBC

The comments were made in a speech by King Charles - dressed fittingly in a kilt - to mark 25 years of the Scottish Parliament.

From BBC

Related Words

• dress
• petticoat
• sarong