Pettiskirts

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A frilly garment typically made of layers of tulle or lace, often worn by children for formal occasions
2. A playful fashion piece characterized by its voluminous, ruffled design, commonly used in dress-up or special celebrations
3. A whimsical skirt designed with multiple ruffles, popular in children's clothing for adding a festive touch to outfits

Etymology: "Pettiskirts" is the plural of "pettiskirt," a blend of "petticoat" and "skirt." The two parts each carry a piece of the history. A petticoat was originally an undergarment worn beneath a skirt, while "skirt" itself is the outer garment. Blending them produced a word for a skirt that sits between the two: a frilly, layered garment that looks like an underskirt worn on its own. The plural form simply pluralizes this noun, so "pettiskirts" refers to more than one such garment. Because the word is a blend rather than a formal coinage built from classical roots, its meaning rests on the visible shapes of its two parts rather than on a deeper linguistic tradition.

Synonyms: petticoats, underskirts, slips