/ skɜːt; NAmE skɜːrt/ noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ C ] a piece of clothing for a woman or girl that hangs from the waist :
a long / short / straight / pleated, etc. skirt
2.
[ C ] (also skirts ) [ pl. ] the part of a dress, coat, etc. that hangs below the waist
3.
[ C ] an outer covering or part used to protect the base of a vehicle or machine :
the rubber skirt around the bottom of a hovercraft
—picture at hovercraft
■ verb
1.
to be or go around the edge of sth :
[ vn ]
They followed the road that skirted the lake.
[ v ]
I skirted around the field and crossed the bridge.
2.
skirt (around / round) sth to avoid talking about a subject, especially because it is difficult or embarrassing :
[ vn ]
He carefully skirted the issue of where they would live.
[ v ]
She tactfully skirted around the subject of money.
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old Norse skyrta shirt; compare with synonymous Old English scyrte , also with short . The verb dates from the early 17th cent.