petticoat -
n. 1 a woman's or girl's skirted undergarment hanging from the waist or shoulders.
2 sl. a a
woman or girl. b (in pl.) the female sex.
3 (attrib.) often derog. feminine; associated with women (
petticoat pedantry).
petticoated adj. petticoatless adj. [ME f. petty coat]