kilt

1 of 2

noun

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

kilt

2 of 2

verb

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

Examples of kilt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
With some of the league’s stars unafraid to walk out with kilts, handbags and leather boots, that self-expression has led to some pretty avant-garde looks. Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2025 For the event, the Golden Globe Award-winning actor dressed in black from head to toe, honoring his Scottish heritage with a kilt to coordinate his layered look. Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025 Celtic kush, time travel, hot men in kilts. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2025 The store supplied her with bondage pants, kilts, and T-shirts printed with obscene illustrations. Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for kilt

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1730, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of kilt was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Kilt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kilt. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

kilt

noun
ˈkilt
: a knee-length pleated skirt usually of tartan worn by men in Scotland
kilted
ˈkil-təd
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on kilt

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