beat up for calling it a skirt?

[Farmer Jones]

A kilt is a skirt in the same way as that material around the bottom of a hovercraft is a skirt.

[Ivor]

A dictionary definition of a skirt is:-
“
: a free-hanging outer garment or undergarment covering some or all of the body from the waist down and traditionally worn by women and girls “

The significant part of this definition is “women and girls” and is the part fully understood by everyone and, in particular, by those referring to kilts as such. Rationalise it as you may it is an inescapable fact that those referring to this iconic Scottish garment as such do so only to demean it and diminish it Scottish culture and the wearer as a result. Whether or not this is considered acceptable is entirely the view of the individual but clearly demonstrates just how genuine or otherwise is their affinity to Scottish culture and dress.

[Jock Scot]

A dictionary definition of a skirt is:-
“
: a free-hanging outer garment or undergarment covering some or all of the body from the waist down and traditionally worn by women and girls “

The significant part of this definition is “women and girls” and is the part fully understood by everyone and, in particular, by those referring to kilts as such. Rationalise it as you may it is an inescapable fact that those referring to this iconic Scottish garment as such do so only to demean it and diminish it Scottish culture and the wearer as a result. Whether or not this is considered acceptable is entirely the view of the individual but clearly demonstrates just how genuine or otherwise is their affinity to Scottish culture and dress.

Precisely!

[makfromtazz]

By any definition either a kilt is a skirt OR a skirt is a kilt ..Kilt means in old Scottish ..to tuck clothes around the body or wrap around the body ...In Scandinavian it is kjalta meaning pleated..In dictionaries a typical description mostly reads something akin to "A short tartan pleated skirt worn by men or by Scottish Highlanders" ..I would guess that the kilt pre dated what is now known as skirts ..Dates back to the 1500's (16th century) if not before..

The garment we refer to now as the Great Kilt was not only worn but also used as overnight shelter according to what I've read over the years.. Not saying that trousers are Johnny Come Lately's or anything but our kilts have been worn by men for around 500 years most likely too..

[pastorsteve]

No matter how you rationalize it, to me, a kilt is a man's skirt. I'm sure some wear kilts because they want to wear a skirt - and that's perfectly fine as I don't care what anyone wears. For me, it's recognition of family heritage so I couldn't care less what anyone might think. If you take offense at someone making a comment about your attire when you are out and about, you should probably stay home. My family comes from the Western Isles, I've worn kilts for decades and can't remember one comment directed at me when kilted (or otherwise really) that was meant to be offensive, or that I considered such.

[FinnKilt]

As a 365/365 kilt wearer (mostly, various kinds of utility kilt), I do fairly regularly get asked Why?; rather less often, What?
I am neither Scottish nor other-current-Celtic; my Celtic ancestors (it's highly likely that they did exist) may well have been the Brythonic Parisii of what is now eastern Yorkshire in Roman times, subsequently enslaved and assimilated by first the AngloSaxon and then the Norse invaders. But that is poor justification for what clothes to wear. So to Why?, one of my stock responses is that it isn't an ethnic statement, it's a fashion statement. Which is moreover pretty true.
As for responding to What?, absolutely the response needs to be light-hearted. If someone is really interested, one can explore the way that words like kilt have fuzzy semantic boundaries: there is the core meaning, which Jock Scot would be entirely happy with, but then there are the outer expansions including kilts for women and girls (often significantly shorter), but more relevantly, the modern or utility kilts in their various and wonderful variations.
Some years ago I was at a conference and exiting the main hall by a rather dark and gloomy staircase when a distinctly Scottish female voice behind me said: What's that? Is that a kilt? and as we came into a brighter space: Oh, it's a manskirrt. That's fine by me.

[Jock Scot]

An interesting and pertinent comment from the Scottish lady, methinks.