kilt

noun \ ˈkilt \

|Updated on: 17 Jun 2018

Definition of kilt

1 : a knee-length pleated skirt usually of tartan worn by men in Scotland and by Scottish regiments in the British armies

2 : a garment that resembles a Scottish kilt

See kilt defined for English-language learners

See kilt defined for kids

Recent Examples of kilt from the Web

When Nicolas Ghesquière unveiled his spring/summer 2016 collection for Louis Vuitton, the actor and musician Jaden Smith, then 17, wore a metal embroidered kilt, going beyond drag to question what, if anything, boyishness looks like now.

— nick haramis, New York Times, "Welcome to the Age of the Twink," 14 May 2018
Of course, what wouldn't?) When Rod's entourage of women returned to the stage, after a quick costume change, wearing matching plaid kilts, my eyes most certainly rolled skyward to the circling billboard airplanes.

— doug maccash, NOLA.com, "Rod Stewart proved irresistible at Jazz Fest 2018," 28 Apr. 2018
The freestyle concludes with Smith hilariously dancing to the background music while a rocking a green kilt and knee-high socks.

— mitchell peters, Billboard, "Watch Will Smith Rock a Green Kilt and Knee-High Socks in St. Patrick's Day Freestyle," 18 Mar. 2018
There were kilts and bubble jackets, green sequin dresses, and very futuristic eyewear.

— mariel cruz, Vogue, "L.A.’s Cool Kids Gather to Celebrate a Super Fly Fashion Collaboration at The Underground Museum," 28 Feb. 2018
Band manager Thomas Cody said all of the band members’ kilts were made of natural wool like the kind being sheared Sunday.

— frank vaisvilas, Daily Southtown, "Just in time for spring, sheep lose their coats at Children's Farm in Palos," 1 May 2018
In 2011, Tisci designed Kanye West and Jay-Z's Watch the Throne album cover as well as the duo's tour wardrobe, including one world-famous leather kilt.

— jake woolf, GQ, "Burberry Announces Riccardo Tisci, Givenchy’s Former Golden Boy, as Its New Chief Creative Officer," 1 Mar. 2018
But the Korafe are wearing their own authentic festive gear—just as a Scot might don his kilt for Hogmanay—made from pig horns, parrot feathers, and cassowary plumes.

— sophy roberts, Condé Nast Traveler, "Navigating Tradition and Tourism in Papua New Guinea," 3 May 2018
As the Chicago Police Bagpipes and Drums of the Emerald Society band emerged from a barn Sunday playing their signature instruments, they were followed by a group that helps produce their signature kilts.

— frank vaisvilas, Daily Southtown, "Just in time for spring, sheep lose their coats at Children's Farm in Palos," 1 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'kilt.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of kilt

circa 1730

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

kilt

verb

Definition of kilt

kilted; kilting; kilts

transitive verb

1 chiefly dialectal : to tuck up (something, such as a skirt)

2 : to equip with a kilt

intransitive verb

: to move nimbly

Origin and Etymology of kilt

Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse kjalta lap, fold of a gathered skirt

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

KILT Defined for English Language Learners

kilt

noun

Definition of kilt for English Language Learners

: a type of skirt traditionally worn by men in Scotland
: a woman's skirt that resembles a Scottish kilt

KILT Defined for Kids

kilt

noun \ ˈkilt \

Definition of kilt for Students

: a knee-length pleated skirt usually of tartan worn by men in Scotland

Learn More about kilt

See words that rhyme with kilt Spanish Central: Translation of kilt Nglish: Translation of kilt for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about kilt

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kilt

Definition of kilt

Recent Examples of kilt from the Web

First Known Use of kilt

kilt

Definition of kilt

Origin and Etymology of kilt

KILT Defined for English Language Learners

kilt

Definition of kilt for English Language Learners

KILT Defined for Kids

kilt

Definition of kilt for Students

Learn More about kilt

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kilt

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