kilt
UK[kɪlt]US[kɪlt]
n
A knee-length pleated skirt, typically of tartan wool, traditionally worn by men as part of Scottish Highland dress.
Etymology
The word 'kilt' entered English in the 18th century from the Scandinavian languages, likely from Old Norse 'kjalta', meaning a skirt or lap. This term was adopted into Scots to specifically denote the traditional garment of the Scottish Highlands. The garment itself evolved from the 'belted plaid', a long piece of tartan fabric that was gathered and belted at the waist. Over time, the tailored, knee-length, pleated version became standardized and inherited the name 'kilt', solidifying its association with Scottish cultural identity.
Analysis
The word 'kilt' is a simplex word of Scandinavian origin. It functions as a single, unanalyzable morpheme in modern English.
Examples
The piper wore a traditional kilt in his clan's tartan.
She admired the intricate pleating of the woolen kilt.
For the wedding, many of the men chose to wear a formal kilt.