[pet.ti.coat] n [ME petycote short tunic, petticoat, fr. pety small + cote coat] (15c) 1: a skirt worn by women, girls, or young children: as a: an outer skirt formerly worn by women and small children b: a fancy skirt made to show below a draped-up overskirt c: an underskirt usu. a little shorter than outer clothing and often made with a ruffled, pleated, or lace edge d archaic: the skirt of a woman's riding habit
2. a: a garment characteristic or typical of women b: woman
3: something (as a valance) resembling a petticoat -- pet.ti.coat.ed adj
[2]petticoat adj (1660): of, relating to, or exercised by women: female