petticoat

noun

pet·ti·coat | \ ˈpe-tē-ˌkōt

Definition of petticoat

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a skirt worn by women, girls, or young children: such as

a : an outer skirt formerly worn by women and small children

b : a fancy skirt made to show below a draped-up overskirt

c : an underskirt usually a little shorter than outer clothing and often made with a ruffled, pleated, or lace edge

d archaic : the skirt of a woman's riding habit

2a : a garment characteristic or typical of women

b : woman

3 : something (such as a valance) resembling a petticoat

petticoat

adjective

Definition of petticoat (Entry 2 of 2)

: of, relating to, or exercised by women : female

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Examples of petticoat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

But despite her torn dress and bloody petticoat and bruises, Brianna refuses to speak of the trauma. — Wendy Naugle, Glamour, "What Outlander Finally Gets Right About Rape This Season," 7 Jan. 2019 Yes, Susanne wore elegant lace ball gowns with petticoats during the evening, but switched into minimal tube dresses during the day. — Brooke Bobb, Vogue, "How One Danish It Girl and Her Best Friends Are Restyling Her Mom’s ’90s Couture Clothes," 1 Oct. 2018 The actress posed for Dutch photographer Viviane Sassen in a desert setting with horses while wearing petticoats, button-downs, and ties that all contained Maria Grazia Chiuri's feminine signature twist. — Marina Liao, Marie Claire, "Jennifer Lawrence Stars in Dior's Cruise 2019 Campaign," 4 Oct. 2018 On one occasion, Bickerdyke ordered privileged white ladies to drop their petticoats so the muslin could be used to bandage the unwrapped stumps of amputees. — Harold Holzer, WSJ, "Burning Down the South," 7 June 2018 Don't turn your back Or vacillate. Don't dry your hands On petticoat, On handkerchief, Or redingote. — Abby, Houston Chronicle, "Lighthearted poem reminds visitors to use guest towels," 13 Mar. 2018 In Connemara at the same time people still dressed boys and girls alike in red flannel petticoats until the age of twelve, a disguise used to trick those fairies who liked to steal boys in particular. — Longreads, "Fairy Scapegoats: A History of the Persecution of Changeling Children," 9 June 2018 As a result, middle- and upper-class American women squeezed themselves into corsets and six to eight petticoats to fill out the shape of their skirts. — Lorraine Boissoneault, Smithsonian, "Amelia Bloomer Didn’t Mean to Start a Fashion Revolution, But Her Name Became Synonymous With Trousers," 24 May 2018 At one point, countertenor Charles Humphries (a capable replacement for Robin Blaze) donned a petticoat and smeared lipstick on his mouth to play the rustic Mopsa, spurning Brook’s amorous Coridon in a hilarious duet. — Zoë Madonna, BostonGlobe.com, "Handel and Haydn ‘Fairy Queen’ is delightful," 7 Apr. 2018

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