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kirtle

Apparel
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A long tunic or gown worn by both men and women in the medieval period, often fitted to the body and worn over a shirt or chemise, a staple of historical and romance poetry.

Detailed Definition
The kirtle is one of the most frequently named garments in Middle English poetry, appearing in works from Chaucer to the ballads of Robin Hood. It was a practical, everyday garment that could be plain or richly decorated, serving as the foundation of a medieval wardrobe. In poetry, the kirtle often carries the weight of class distinction—a woolen kirtle for a peasant, a silk or velvet one for a lady. Its hemline, length, and color are carefully described to signal character and occasion. The act of "kirtling up" or hiking the garment to work or run provides a vivid image of female labor or escape. In courtly love poetry, a lover might treasure a ribbon from a lady's kirtle as a token, and in lament, a torn or muddied kirtle can stand for the ravages of time or violence.
Example
Example in poetry:
"Her kirtle's green wool was the color of the forest she had left"; "The kirtle's hem was muddy from the road and the miles she had walked"; "She hitched her kirtle and ran through the rain"; "His kirtle, of coarse linen, was the garment of a man who worked with his hands"; "The kirtle's laces were loose, her hair undone, a woman at rest"; "In Chaucer's verse, the kirtle marks the pilgrim's practical faith"
Additional Notes
The kirtle is one of the most frequently named garments in Middle English poetry, appearing in works from Chaucer to the ballads of Robin Hood. It was a practical, everyday garment that could be plain or richly decorated, serving as the foundation of a medieval wardrobe. In poetry, the kirtle often carries the weight of class distinction—a woolen kirtle for a peasant, a silk or velvet one for a lady. Its hemline, length, and color are carefully described to signal character and occasion. The act of "kirtling up" or hiking the garment to work or run provides a vivid image of female labor or escape. In courtly love poetry, a lover might treasure a ribbon from a lady's kirtle as a token, and in lament, a torn or muddied kirtle can stand for the ravages of time or violence. Related terms include tunic, gown, and dress. Students should note the kirtle's ubiquity in medieval poetry and its ability to signal both class and emotion.
Other Meanings of “kirtle”
Also Known As
gown tunic dress medieval robe
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