a woman's light undergarment hanging from the waist or shoulders; an underskirt or slip
an outer skirt formerly worn by women and small children
humorous or derog (used before a noun) characteristic of or exercised by women
a petticoat government
petticoated adj
[Middle English petycote short tunic, petticoat, from pety small (from Old French petit) + cote: see coat1]