PETTICOAT

I. noun Etymology: Middle English petycote short tunic, ~, from pety small + cote coat Date: 15th century a skirt worn by women, girls, or young children: as, an outer skirt formerly worn by women and small children, a fancy skirt made to show below a draped-up overskirt, an underskirt usually a little shorter than outer clothing and often made with a ruffled, pleated, or lace edge, the skirt of a woman's riding habit, 2. a garment characteristic or typical of women, woman , something (as a valance) resembling a ~, ~ed adjective II. adjective Date: 1660 of, relating to, or exercised by women ; female