The lower and loose part of a coat, dress, or other like garment; the part below the waist; as, the skirt of a coat, a dress, or a mantle. [1913 Webster]
A loose edging to any part of a dress. [1913 Webster]
"A narrow lace, or a small skirt of ruffled linen, which runs along the upper part of the stays before, and crosses the breast, being a part of the tucker, is called the modesty piece." [1913 Webster]
Border; edge; margin; extreme part of anything Shak. [1913 Webster]
A petticoat. [1913 Webster]
The diaphragm, or midriff, in animals. Dunglison. [1913 Webster]

Skirt, v. t.

To cover with a skirt; to surround. [1913 Webster]
"Skirted his loins and thighs with downy gold." [1913 Webster]
To border; to form the border or edge of; to run along the edge of; as, the plain was skirted by rows of trees. Tennyson. [1913 Webster]

Skirt, v. t.

To be on the border; to live near the border, or extremity. [1913 Webster]

"Savages . . . who skirt along our western frontiers." [1913 Webster]

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

Skirt, 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.

Idiom

skirt-dance a dance with graceful manipulation of a full skirt.

Derivative

skirted adj. (also in comb.). skirtless adj.

Etymology

ME f. ON skyrta shirt, corresp. to OE scyrte: see SHIRT

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THESAURUS

Skirt

Jane, Mother Hubbard, adjoin, babe, baby, ballet skirt, bank, befringe, beg, biddy, bind, bird, bitch, board, border, bordure, bound, boundaries, bounds, bourns, brim, brink, broad, brow, brush, brush by, burke, bypass, caress, cheongsam, chick, chiton, circle, circuit, circuiteer, circulate, circumambulate, circumference, circummigrate, circumnavigate, circumscription, circumvent, close the circle, coast, cocktail dress, colleen, come full circle, come in contact, compass, confines, contact, coordinates, crinoline, culottes, cutie, cycle, dame, damoiselle, damsel, define, demoiselle, describe a circle, detour, dirndl, ditch, dodge, doll, double, dress, dresses, duck, edge, edges, elude, encircle, encompass, enframe, escape, evade, featheredge, filly, flange, flank, frail, frame, fringe, fringes, frock, full skirt, gal, get around, get away from, get out of, girdle, girdle the globe, girl, girlie, glance, go about, go around, go round, go the round, gown, grass skirt, graze, gyre, hedge, heifer, hem, hen, hit, hobble skirt, hoyden, ignore, impinge, jeune fille, jill, jumper, junior miss, jupe, kilt, kirtle, kiss, labellum, labium, labrum, lap, lass, lassie, ledge, limb, limbus, limitations, limits, line, lip, list, little missy, mademoiselle, maid, maiden, make a circuit, mantua, march, marches, marge, margin, marginate, maxiskirt, metes, metes and bounds, microskirt, midiskirt, miniskirt, minx, miss, missy, muu-muu, nudge, nymphet, orbit, osculate, outlines, outskirts, overdress, pale, pannier, parameters, peplum, perimeter, periphery, petticoat, piece, pinafore, purfle, purl, ragged edge, revolve, rim, romp, round, rub, sack, sari, sarong, schoolgirl, schoolmaid, schoolmiss, scrape, selvage, set off, shake, shake off, shave, sheath, shirtdress, shore, shuffle out of, side, sideline, sidestep, sideswipe, skim, skip, skirting, skirts, slip, slit skirt, spiral, squeak by, subdeb, subdebutante, subteen, subteener, surround, tea gown, teenybopper, tomato, tomboy, touch, trim, tutu, verge, verges, virgin, wench, wheel, young creature, young thing

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ROGET THESAURUS

Skirt

Adjunct

N adjunct, addition, additament, additum, affix, appelidage, annexe, annex, augment, augmentation, increment, reinforcement, supernumerary, accessory, item, garnish, sauce, accompaniment, adjective, addendum, complement, supplement, continuation, rider, offshoot, episode, side issue, corollary, piece, flap, lappet, skirt, embroidery, trappings, cortege, tail, suffix, wing, additional, alate, alated, winged, in addition.

Pendency

N pendency, dependency, suspension, hanging, pedicel, pedicle, peduncle, tail, train, flap, skirt, pigtail, pony tail, pendulum, hangnail peg, knob, button, hook, nail, stud, ring, staple, tenterhook, fastening, spar, horse, pendent, pendulous, pensile, hanging, beetling, jutting over, overhanging, projecting, dependent, suspended, loose, flowing, having a peduncle, pedunculate, tailed, caudate.

Clothing

N clothing, investment, covering, dress, raiment, drapery, costume, attire, guise, toilet, toilette, trim, habiliment, vesture, vestment, garment, garb, palliament, apparel, wardrobe, wearing apparel, clothes, things, underclothes, array, tailoring, millinery, finery, full dress, garniture, theatrical properties, outfit, equipment, trousseau, uniform, regimentals, continentals, canonicals, livery, gear, harness, turn-out, accouterment, caparison, suit, rigging, trappings, traps, slops, togs, toggery, day wear, night wear, zoot suit, designer clothes, masquerade, dishabille, morning dress, undress, kimono, lungi, shooting-coat, mufti, rags, tatters, old clothes, mourning, weeds, duds, slippers, robe, tunic, paletot, habit, gown, coat, frock, blouse, toga, smock frock, claw coat, hammer coat, Prince Albert coat, sack coat, tuxedo coat, frock coat, dress coat, tail coat, cloak, pall, mantle, mantlet mantua, shawl, pelisse, wrapper, veil, cape, tippet, kirtle, plaid, muffler, comforter, haik, huke, chlamys, mantilla, tabard, housing, horse cloth, burnoose, burnous, roquelaure, houppelande, surcoat, overcoat, great coat, surtout, spencer, mackintosh, waterproof, raincoat, ulster, P-coat, dreadnought, wraprascal, poncho, cardinal, pelerine, barbe, chudder, jubbah, oilskins, pajamas, pilot jacket, talma jacket, vest, jerkin, waistcoat, doublet, camisole, gabardine, farthingale, kilt, jupe, crinoline, bustle, panier, skirt, apron, pinafore, bloomer, bloomers, chaqueta, songtag, tablier, pants, trousers, trowsers, breeches, pantaloons, inexpressibles, overalls, smalls, small clothes, shintiyan, shorts, jockey shorts, boxer shorts, tights, drawers, panties, unmentionables, knickers, knickerbockers, philibeg, fillibeg, pants suit, culottes, jeans, blue jeans, dungarees, denims, Levis, Calvin Klein, Calvins, Bonjour, Gloria Vanderbilt, headdress, headgear, chapeau, crush hat, opera hat, kaffiyeh, sombrero, jam, tam-o-shanter, tarboosh, topi, sola topi, pagri, puggaree, cap, hat, beaver hat, coonskin cap, castor, bonnet, tile, wideawake, billycock, wimple, nightcap, mobcap, skullcap, hood, coif, capote, calash, kerchief, snood, babushka, head, coiffure, crown, chignon, pelt, wig, front, peruke, periwig, caftan, turban, fez, shako, csako, busby, kepi, forage cap, bearskin, baseball cap, fishing hat, helmet, mask, domino, body clothes, linen, hickory shirt, shirt, sark, smock, shift, chemise, night gown, negligee, dressing gown, night shirt, bedgown, sac de nuit, underclothes, underpants, undershirt, slip, brassiere, corset, stays, corsage, corset, corselet, bodice, girdle, stomacher, petticoat, panties, under waistcoat, jock, athletic supporter, jockstrap, sweater, jersey, cardigan, turtleneck, pullover, sweater vest, neckerchief, neckcloth, tie, ruff, collar, cravat, stock, handkerchief, scarf, bib, tucker, boa, cummerbund, rumal, rabat, shoe, pump, boot, slipper, sandal, galoche, galoshes, patten, clog, sneakers, running shoes, hiking boots, high-low, Blucher boot, wellington boot, Hessian boot, jack boot, top boot, Balmoral, arctics, bootee, bootikin, brogan, chaparajos, chavar, chivarras, chivarros, gums, larrigan, rubbers, showshoe, stogy, veldtschoen, legging, buskin, greave, galligaskin, gamache, gamashes, moccasin, gambado, gaiter, spatterdash, brogue, antigropelos, stocking, hose, gaskins, trunk hose, sock, hosiery, glove, gauntlet, mitten, cuff, wristband, sleeve, swaddling cloth, baby linen, layette, ice wool, taffeta, pocket handkerchief, hanky, hankie, clothier, tailor, milliner, costumier, sempstress, snip, dressmaker, habitmaker, breechesmaker, shoemaker, Crispin, friseur, cordwainer, cobbler, hosier, hatter, draper, linen draper, haberdasher, mercer, diaper, nappy, disposable diaper, cloth diaper, Luvs Huggies, invested, habited, dighted, barbed, barded, clad, costume, shod, chausse, en grande tenue, sartorial, the soul of this man is his clothes.

Circumjacence

VB lie around, surround, beset, compass, encompass, environ, inclose, enclose, encircle, embrace, circumvent, lap, gird, belt, begird, engird, skirt, twine round, hem in.

Edge

N edge, verge, brink, brow, brim, margin, border, confine, skirt, rim, flange, side, mouth, jaws, chops, chaps, fauces, lip, muzzle, threshold, door, porch, portal, coast, shore, frame, fringe, flounce, frill, list, trimming, edging, skirting, hem, selvedge, welt, furbelow, valance, gimp, border, marginal, skirting, labial, labiated, marginated.

Laterality

VB be on one side, flank, outflank, sidle, skirt, orientate.

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