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

How to join the Tartan Army Wear a kilt to the game to blend in—but make to sport it right way. —Laura Dannen Redman, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 May 2026

The sardonic clip sees Ford reluctantly trade in his signature leather jacket for a kilt and valiantly plug Glenmorangie while standing atop a hill. —Marissa G. Muller, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026

The setting is Scotland — very exotic to Danes back in the 19th century (not to mention great for showing off a male dancer’s petit batterie beneath a flapping kilt). —Rachel Howard, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Apr. 2026

Spectators along the route wore kilts, orange wigs, Irish flags and full leprechaun ensembles. —Eva Remijan-Toba, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026

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