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petticoat

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

An undergarment worn beneath a skirt or dress, often made of cotton or flannel, providing warmth and shape, and serving in poetry as a symbol of female modesty, domesticity, and hidden layers.

Detailed Definition
The petticoat is perhaps the most domestic of all women's garments, appearing frequently in sentimental, domestic, and children's poetry. Its white or plain color suggests cleanliness and order, and its layers are often counted to indicate a woman's care for her appearance. In love poetry, the sight of a petticoat hem peeking from beneath a gown can be a small, tantalizing detail. In folk ballads, the petticoat may be used as a makeshift flag or bandage, showing its practical versatility. The phrase "petticoat government" appears in satirical verse to criticize female influence, but many poets have reclaimed the garment as a symbol of female solidarity and hidden strength. Its association with childhood—a girl's first petticoat—also makes it a garment of memory and maturation.
Example
Example in poetry:
"Her petticoat's layers rustled like a forest of autumn leaves"; "She lifted her petticoat and waded into the stream"; "The petticoat's white cotton was a flag of her modesty"; "He saw her petticoat hem and blushed at the intimacy"; "The petticoat, patched and mended, was a testament to her thrift"; "She stepped out of her petticoat and let the evening begin"
Additional Notes
The petticoat is perhaps the most domestic of all women's garments, appearing frequently in sentimental, domestic, and children's poetry. Its white or plain color suggests cleanliness and order, and its layers are often counted to indicate a woman's care for her appearance. In love poetry, the sight of a petticoat hem peeking from beneath a gown can be a small, tantalizing detail. In folk ballads, the petticoat may be used as a makeshift flag or bandage, showing its practical versatility. The phrase "petticoat government" appears in satirical verse to criticize female influence, but many poets have reclaimed the garment as a symbol of female solidarity and hidden strength. Its association with childhood—a girl's first petticoat—also makes it a garment of memory and maturation. Related terms include underskirt, slip, and crinoline. Students should note the petticoat's role as a symbol of both feminine modesty and hidden domestic strength.
Also Known As
underskirt hoop support feminine underlayer
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