kilt

1 of 2

noun

ˈkilt 

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

Noun

Also of note on the Roy front: Brian Cox popped up in David Tennant’s fever dream of an opening sketch to compliment the host’s kilt. —Hayley Maitland, Vogue, 17 Feb. 2025

With the exception of Scotsmen in kilts, skirts tend to stoke controversy in the outdoors. —Kelly Klein, Outside Online, 15 May 2025

The tradition is back at Campo di Bocce on March 17, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Irish dancing, a pipe band, the Black Irish band and food are included, and kilts are encouraged at this 21-and-older event. —Debby Rice, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2025

Private security guards tackled a man who appeared to be wearing a kilt and yelling. —Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2025

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

Rhymes for kilt

• built
• gilt
• guilt
• hilt
• lilt
• milt
• quilt
• silt
• spilt
• stilt
• tilt
• wilt

Kids Definition

kilt

noun

ˈkilt

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

kilted

ˈkil-təd

adjective