petticoat Hear it!

petticoat Definition

petti·coat (pet′ē kōt′, pet′i-)

noun

  1. a skirt, now esp. an underskirt often trimmed at the hemline as with lace or ruffles, worn by women and girls
  2. something resembling a petticoat
  3. Informal a woman or girl

Etymology: ME petycote: see petty & coat

adjective

of or by women; female petticoat government

petticoat Synonyms

petticoat

n.

skirt, underskirt, slip, half-slip, shift, crinoline; see also clothes, underwear.

petticoat Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • velvet: Mary, Queen of Scots went to her execution in a gown of black satin and petticoat of red velvet.

Converse of object

  • wear: She wore a red petticoat under a loose, dark gray gown of damask trimmed in fur.
  • have: The boat shaped cap had a petticoat, a gallery and a 6 bladed fan.
  • steal: March 24 th 1845 Sarah Osborne aged 11 years was convicted of stealing a flannel petticoat from Jane Mudd of Gedding.
  • stiffen: In the earlier part of the period dresses were given shape by stiffened petticoats but by mid century the characteristic mode was the crinoline.
  • ruffle: From the city of the ruffled petticoat and black stockings comes a show with true French flavor.
  • starch: The girl's dress has a full flounced skirt supported by numerous stiff horsehair and starched petticoats.

Adjective modifier

  • red: She wore a red petticoat under a loose, dark gray gown of damask trimmed in fur.
  • short: I see there is a wide variety of short petticoats, and not enough short skirts to go over these!
  • net: T-shirts printed with the words " Music & Love " were worn with heavily studded black belts and short full skirts with net petticoats.
  • heavy: They freed women from the layers and layers of heavy petticoats and were much more hygienic and comfortable.
  • hooped: I put my separate hooped petticoat on and that was it, ready to face the eager crowds.
  • black: Still, if anyone finds out how many black lace petticoats Edward IV had, you know who wants to know.

Modifies a noun

  • government: He's beyond petticoat government already: by God!

Noun used with modifier

  • flannel: March 24 th 1845 Sarah Osborne aged 11 years was convicted of stealing a flannel petticoat from Jane Mudd of Gedding.
  • salmon-pink: It had a milky white bell with a salmon-pink petticoat and frilly white tentacles.
petticoat Quotes

Brevity is the soul of lingerie, as the Petticoat said to the Chemise.

—Parker, Dorothy ne¤  e Rothschild

Though I be a woman yet I have as good a courage answerable to my place as ever my father had. I am your anointed queen. I will never be by violence constrained to do anything. I thank God I am indeed endued with such qualities that if I were turned out of the realm in my petticoat I were able to live in any place of Christendom.

—Elizabeth I