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underskirt

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 skirt worn beneath an outer skirt, providing fullness, warmth, or modesty, often mentioned in poetry for its practical function and its contribution to a woman's silhouette.

Detailed Definition
The underskirt, distinct from a petticoat by being skirt-shaped rather than an open garment, offers poets a way to discuss the architecture of female dress. In 19th-century verse, the underskirt is often the layer that catches the eye when the outer skirt is lifted or blown by the wind, creating moments of accidental revelation. Its fabric—usually sturdier than the outer layer—grounds the description in everyday material life. Poets use the underskirt to comment on the economics of clothing, as it was often made from cheaper materials and could be replaced without the expense of a new outer skirt. In love poetry, the careful arrangement of underskirts by a lady's maid is a ritual of preparation, while in pastoral verse, a torn underskirt suggests a rough encounter with brambles or a hasty flight.
Example
Example in poetry:
"Her underskirt of flannel was a secret warmth against the winter wind"; "The underskirt's rustle was the sound of her approach"; "She lifted her outer skirt to show the underskirt's lace"; "The underskirt, dyed a soft pink, was her only frivolity"; "He saw her underskirt hem and felt the intimacy of the private"; "The underskirt, patched and mended, was a garment of survival"
Additional Notes
The underskirt, distinct from a petticoat by being skirt-shaped rather than an open garment, offers poets a way to discuss the architecture of female dress. In 19th-century verse, the underskirt is often the layer that catches the eye when the outer skirt is lifted or blown by the wind, creating moments of accidental revelation. Its fabric—usually sturdier than the outer layer—grounds the description in everyday material life. Poets use the underskirt to comment on the economics of clothing, as it was often made from cheaper materials and could be replaced without the expense of a new outer skirt. In love poetry, the careful arrangement of underskirts by a lady's maid is a ritual of preparation. Related terms include petticoat, slip, and crinoline. Students should note the underskirt's role in providing structure and its ability to signal both modesty and hidden layers.
Also Known As
petticoat crinoline layer undergarment
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