kirtle

noun

kir·​tle ˈkər-tᵊl How to pronounce kirtle (audio)
Synonyms of kirtlenext
1
: a long gown or dress worn by women
2
: a tunic or coat worn by men especially in the Middle Ages

Examples of kirtle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Enlarge / Vintage illustration of medieval women wearing kirtles. —Diana Gitig, Ars Technica, 11 Feb. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'kirtle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English kirtel, from Old English cyrtel, from Old English *curt short, from Latin curtus mutilated, curtailed — more at shear

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of kirtle was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near kirtle

Kirtland's warbler

kirtle

Kiruna

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Kirtle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kirtle. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.

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