be-petticoated

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See also: bepetticoated

English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From be- +‎ petticoat +‎ -ed.

Adjective

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be-petticoated (comparative more be-petticoated, superlative most be-petticoated)

  1. Wearing or having a petticoat.
    • 1855 December 16, “A Friend Perhaps”, “A Hint in Season”, in The Era, volume XVIII, number 899, London, page 12, column 3:
      Sir,—In reference to the late calamity at the Plymouth Theatre, in a very brief time we shall have legions of be-petticoated fairies in all the inflammable muslin and Tarlatan peculiar to their spiritual appearance gambolling and sporting before us, and it may not be out of place to suggest that managers should protect their jets and float lights with some screen to guard as much as possible against such deplorable occurrences.
    • 1951 October 25, Daily News, number 17,716, Los Angeles, Calif., page 22:
      Since a full-skirted, be-petticoated frock calls attention to your slim ankles and prettily shod foot just as surely as though a spotlight were focused on them, you'll be wise if you emulate our charming model and select sheer black magic in hosiery.
    • 1952 April 30, Cynthia Cabot, “Hollywood, Paris Fashions Highlight Today’s Shows”, in The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, Pa., page 41:
      The “Summer Nights” program presented by Bonwit’s at the “Five O’Clock” show, will include the frothy, be-petticoated dresses for formal wear, endorsed by both Paris and American designers.
    • 1954 April 17, “Kippy Perrine Joins List of June Brides”, in Daily News-Post, volume XLV, number 195, Monrovia, Calif., page 8, column 1:
      The honoree, gowned in a flowered pink dress, with bouffant be-petticoated skirt, looked like a fairy tale princess, in keeping with the party setting.
    • 1955 March 8, Pat Laughrey, “Slim, Full Silhouettes Still In Fashion News: But Extremes Give Way To Comfort And Natural Lines”, in Valley Times, volume 18, number 370, page 4:
      Silhouettes are still both slim and full, but unlike past seasons they are not moulded to a paper-on-the-wall slimness nor are they flared and be-petticoated to tremendous widths.
    • 1955 November 16, “Party Dresses Like Mother’s”, in Johnson City Press-Chronicle, volume 36, number 79, Johnson City, Tenn., page seven:
      The wandering waistline is as much evident here as it is in adult fashion, and features the two extremes: either the long, long line of the overblouse and the sleeveless jumper; or the very high Empire waistline (just a few inches under the armhole), emphasized by a cummerbund or a sash, with a full be-petticoated skirt below.
    • 1979 February 25, “All at sea”, in The Observer, number 9783, London, page 14, columns 1–2:
      Women enter only as whores, molls and vendors of illicit booze: in the first play, ‘In the Caribees’ (which O’Neill rated his best one-act play), they are a trio of darkie prostitutes (in Bryden’s only false move, so be-petticoated and clean they look like a rum advertisement).

Synonyms

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