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skirting

American  
[skur-ting] / ˈskɜr tɪŋ /

noun

  1. fabric for making skirts.

  2. Often skirtings. low-grade wool and foreign matter removed from the outer edges of fleece.

  3. Also called skirting boardBritish. baseboard.


skirting British  
/ ˈskɜːtɪŋ /

noun

  1. a border, esp of wood or tiles, fixed round the base of an interior wall to protect it from kicks, dirt, etc

  2. material used or suitable for skirts

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of skirting

First recorded in 1680–90; skirt + -ing 1

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.

With the leak's Maryland location upriver from Washington, much of it found its way to the waters skirting the US capital.

From Barron's • Feb. 18, 2026

The two-lane loop threads its way among forests and A-frames and cabins, skirting the waters of June Lake and the lake’s village, which is only a few blocks long.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 29, 2026

Some regulators say prediction markets are skirting sports-betting laws, which can call for licensing reviews, addressing gambling addiction and monitoring for fraud.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 24, 2026

Mr Pearson recommended sealing gaps around skirting boards, letter boxes and even light fittings.

From BBC • Jan. 3, 2026

There, Margaret, the sun is for ever visible, its broad disk just skirting the horizon and diffusing a perpetual splendour.

From "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley