skə:t 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. øskirt-dance a
dance with
graceful manipulation of a full skirt. øøskirted adj. (also in comb.). skirtless adj. [ME f. ON skyrta
shirt, corresp. to OE scyrte: see SHIRT]