skirt

¹skirt

noun \ˈskərt\

Definition of SKIRT

1

a (1) : a free-hanging part of an outer garment or undergarment extending from the waist down (2) : a separate free-hanging outer garment or undergarment usually worn by women and girls covering some or all of the body from the waist down

b : either of two usually leather flaps on a saddle covering the bars on which the stirrups are hung

c : a cloth facing that hangs from the bottom edge or across the front of a piece of furniture

d : the lower branches of a tree when near the ground

2

a : the rim, periphery, or environs of an area

b plural : outlying parts (as of a town or city)

3

: a part or attachment serving as a rim, border, or edging

4

slang : a girl or woman

— skirt·ed adjective

Examples of SKIRT

1. She was wearing a short skirt.
2. The skirt of her coat got caught in the car door.
3. They put a protective skirt around the base of the machine.

Origin of SKIRT

Middle English, from Old Norse skyrta shirt, kirtle — more at shirt

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to SKIRT

Synonyms

borderline, bound, boundary, brim, circumference, compass, confines, edge, edging, end, frame, fringe, hem, margin, perimeter, periphery, rim, border, skirting, verge

Related Words

ambit; brink, crest, curb, cusp, lip; ceiling, maximum; demarcation, extent, limitation, measure, mere, restriction, termination; borderland, frontier, march, outskirts, pale, selvage; lap; shore

Near Antonyms

center, core, heart; inner, inside, interior, middle, within

Other Equestrian Terms

canter, cantle, curry, farrier, hunter, paddock, router, tack

Rhymes with SKIRT

blurt, chert, curt, dirt, flirt, girt, hurt, pert, quirt, shirt, spurt, squirt, sturt, vert, wort

²skirt

verb

Definition of SKIRT

transitive verb

1

: to form or run along the border or edge of : border

2

a : to provide a skirt for

b : to furnish a border or shield for

3

a : to go or pass around or about; specifically : to go around or keep away from in order to avoid danger or discovery

b : to avoid especially because of difficulty or fear of controversy <skirted the issue>

c : to evade or miss by a narrow margin <having skirted disaster — Edith Wharton>

intransitive verb

: to be, lie, or move along an edge or border

— skirt·er noun

Examples of SKIRT

1. The mayor skirted the issue by saying that a committee was looking into the problem.
2. They tried to skirt the new regulations.
3. He tried to skirt around the question.
4. Pine trees skirt the northern edge of the pond.
5. The road skirts around the lake.
6. We skirted around the edge of the city.

First Known Use of SKIRT

1602

Related to SKIRT

Synonyms

bypass, circumnavigate, circumvent, detour

Antonyms

comply (with), follow, keep, obey, observe

Related Words

leapfrog; avoid, dodge, duck, elude, escape, eschew, evade, flee, shake, shun

Near Antonyms

confront, face, meet; accept, court, embrace, pursue, seek, welcome