/derrn"dl/ , n.
1. a woman's dress with a close-fitting bodice and full skirt, commonly of colorful and strikingly patterned material, fashioned after Tyrolean peasant wear.
2. a full, gathered skirt attached to a waistband or hip yoke.
3. any skirt with gathers at the waistband.
[ 1935-40; Dirndl, short for Dirndlkleid, equiv. to Dirndl young woman (orig. Bavarian, Austrian dial., dim. of Dirne young woman, MHG dierne, OHG thiorna; akin to THANE) + Kleid dress (see CLOTH) ]