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

Dressed in traditional Scottish kilts, the fans frequently herald their arrival with the sounds of bagpipes blaring through the streets. — Elmira Aliieva, NBC news, 27 June 2026

True to their word, the Scots were at the game Thursday night, seen in their kilts in the 320 level of Arrowhead Stadium, renamed Kansas City Stadium for the duration of the World Cup. — Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 26 June 2026

Every imaginable yellow, green and blue wig was on display among the sea of kilts outside Hard Rock Stadium (re-named Miami Stadium for the World Cup), faces were painted in all the team colors, and fans of both teams posed for photos together. — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 25 June 2026

Scotland's Tartan Army is out in full force for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as kilt-wearing fans from across the pond make waves from Massachusetts to Florida. — Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 24 June 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