noun
petticoat
PEHT-ih-koht
noun
1
A light underskirt worn beneath a dress or skirt to add fullness, warmth, or shape.
"The bride's gown flared out over layers of stiff petticoats."
"Grandma still keeps an old lace petticoat from her wedding day."
verb
1
To dress someone in a petticoat, or more broadly, to clothe in feminine attire.
"The costume designer petticoated the dancers for the period drama."
How to Use Petticoat
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn underskirt worn to puff out or add shape to the skirt above it.
When to use it
Mostly used today in historical, costume, or fashion contexts rather than modern everyday dress.
Common pairings
a lace petticoat
layers of petticoats
petticoat and gown
Word Forms
petticoated past tense, petticoats plural, petticoats singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “petticoat”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The bride's gown flared out over layers of stiff _____.
Etymology
From Middle English pety cote, literally a "small/petty coat" — originally a short undergarment, later the flouncy underskirt sense took over.