n. & v.
--n.
1. a woman's outer garment hanging from the waist.
2 the part of a coat etc. that hangs below the waist.
3 a hanging part round the base of a hovercraft.
4 (in sing. or pl.) an edge, border, or extreme part.
5 (also bit of skirt) sl. offens. a woman regarded as an object of sexual desire.
6 (in full skirt of beef etc.) a the diaphragm and other membranes as food. b Brit. a cut of meat from the lower flank.
7 a flap of a saddle.
8 a surface that conceals or protects the wheels or underside of a vehicle or aircraft.
--v.
1. tr. go along or round or past the edge of.
2 tr. be situated along.
3 tr. avoid dealing with (an issue etc.).
4 intr. (foll. by along) go along the coast, a wall, etc.
Phrases and idioms:
skirt-dance a dance with graceful manipulation of a full skirt.
Derivatives:
skirted adj. (also in comb.). skirtless adj.
Etymology: ME f. ON skyrta shirt, corresp. to OE scyrte: see SHIRT