# kilt

/ˈkɪɫt/ (US) · /kˈɪlt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/kilt
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. Scottish garment

noun · CEFR B1

a traditional Scottish skirt for men, usually made of wool with a colorful tartan pattern.

For teachers: a traditional Scottish garment, typically worn by men, consisting of a length of woollen cloth wrapped around the waist with pleats at the back.

- He wore a traditional kilt to his sister's wedding in Edinburgh.
- The bagpiper was dressed in full Highland regalia, including a kilt made from his family's specific tartan pattern.

### 2. school uniform

noun · CEFR B2

a pleated skirt that is part of a school uniform, often worn by girls.

For teachers: a pleated, often wrap-around skirt worn as part of a school uniform, resembling the structure of a traditional Scottish kilt.

- The private school required all female students to wear a grey kilt.
- The uniform policy specified that the kilt must be worn at knee-length and paired with the official school blazer.

### 3. to tuck up

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary · Dialect

to tuck up or pull up a skirt or long clothing to make it shorter.

For teachers: to tuck up or gather a garment, such as a skirt, around the body to facilitate movement.

- She kilted her long dress to walk through the muddy field.
- The workers kilted their robes to avoid the rising tide while they gathered shellfish along the rocky shoreline.

## Examples

- He wore a traditional kilt to the wedding.
- The school band performed a traditional Scottish song while the members wore kilts and bagpipes.
- While the kilt is a staple of Scottish heritage, its modern design has evolved to include various patterns and materials, though the traditional tartan remains the most recognizable.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.