petticoat: Meaning and Definition of

pet•ti•coat

Pronunciation: (pet'ē-kōt"), [key]
— n.
  1. Also calledan 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. a woman or girl.
—adj.
  1. of, pertaining to, or controlled by women; female; feminine: petticoat government.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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