Webster's English Dictionary

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petticoat

1. pet.ti.coat \'pet-e--.ko-t\ n [ME petycote short tunic, petticoat, fr. 
   pety small + cote co]at 1: a skirt worn by women, girls, or young children 
   : as  1a: an outer skirt formerly worn by women and small children  1b: a 
   fancy skirt made to show below a draped-up overskirt  1c: an underskirt 
   usu. a little shorter than outer clothing and often made  with a ruffled, 
   pleated, or lace edge archaic  1d: the skirt of a woman's riding habit  2a: 
   a garment characteristic or typical of women  2b: WOMAN  3: something (as a 
   valance) resembling a petticoat 
2. petticoat aj : FEMALE {~ government}