petticoat

petticoat
petticoatless, adj.
/pet"ee koht'/, n.
1. Also called pettiskirt. an underskirt, esp. one that is full and often trimmed and ruffled and of a decorative fabric.
2. any skirtlike part or covering.
3. a flounce or valance fitting around the sides of a bed, couch, or chair, as to conceal the legs.
4. Informal. a woman or girl.
adj.
5. of, pertaining to, or controlled by women; female; feminine: petticoat government.
[1375-1425; late ME petycote. See PETTY, COAT]

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      in modern usage, an underskirt worn by women. The petycote (probably derived from the Old French petite cote, “little coat”) appeared in literature in the 15th century in reference to a kind of padded waistcoat, or undercoat, worn for warmth over the shirt by men. The petticoat developed as a piece of women's apparel—a skirt worn under an overgown—at the end of the Middle Ages. By the beginning of the 16th century, the overgown had an inverted V opening, and the petticoat, now visible, was brocaded or embroidered.

      In the 17th century the outer skirt was looped up prominently, showing the petticoat underneath, and in the 18th century the petticoat figured prominently with the inverted V opening of the popular polonaise. In the early 19th century, women wore many petticoats, bound together, to show the great fullness of the skirt. By the 1850s, however, these voluminous petticoats had been abandoned for the more comfortable crinoline (q.v.). In about 1900, when skirts became less full, the petticoat was visible only when a woman lifted her dress—as when crossing the street. Thereafter, petticoats became increasingly less important and were worn only as undergarments.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Petticoat — Pet ti*coat, n. (Zo[ o]l.) [Petty + coat.] A loose under garment worn by women, and covering the body below the waist. [1913 Webster] {Petticoat government}, government by women, whether in politics or domestic affairs. [Colloq.] {Petticoat pipe} …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Petticoat — Sm weiter, versteifter Unterrock erw. obs. (20. Jh.) Entlehnung. Entlehnt aus ne. petticoat (eigentlich kleiner Rock ), einer Zusammensetzung aus me. pety klein (aus frz. petit klein ) und me. coote Umhang, Mantel (aus afrz. cote, das wohl… …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

  • petticoat — [pet′ē kōt΄, pet′ikōt΄] n. [ME petycote: see PETTY & COAT] 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. [Old Informal] a woman or girl adj …   English World dictionary

  • Petticoat — Petticoat: Die Bezeichnung für den versteiften, weiten Unterrock wurde in der 2. Hälfte des 20. Jh.s aus dem Engl. übernommen. Engl. petticoat steht für älteres petty coat und bedeutet demnach wörtlich »kleiner Rock«. Bestimmungswort ist engl.… …   Das Herkunftswörterbuch

  • petticoat — ► NOUN 1) a woman s light, loose undergarment in the form of a skirt or dress. 2) (before another noun ) informal, often derogatory associated with women: petticoat government. ORIGIN from obsolete petty coat «small coat» …   English terms dictionary

  • Petticoat — Petticoat,der:⇨Unterrock …   Das Wörterbuch der Synonyme

  • petticoat — early 15c., pety coote, lit. a small coat, from PETTY (Cf. petty) + COAT (Cf. coat) (n.). Originally a padded coat worn by men under armor, applied mid 15c. to a garment worn by women and young children. By 1590s, the typical feminine garment,… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Petticoat — A petticoat or underskirt is an article of clothing for women; specifically an undergarment to be worn under a skirt, dress or sari. The petticoat is a separate garment hanging from the waist (unlike the chemise). *In historical contexts… …   Wikipedia

  • Petticoat — Petticoats beim Square Dance Ein Petticoat (Französisch „petit“ = klein und Englisch „coat“ = Umhang, Mantel) ist ein bauschig weiter Unterrock aus versteiften Perlon und Nylon Stoffen mit rüschen und spitzenverzierten Stufen, der in den 1950er… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • petticoat —    dominated by a female    For the Victorians a petticoat was a female, without expressly sexual overtones:     I can safely say here there is not a petticoat in the whole history. (Haggard, 1885)    It is not necessary to dilate further to… …   How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms

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