Who does and doesn't call it a skirt.

[IrishGodfather]

[QUOTE=Jack Daw;551165]There's a female colleague at work who refuses to call it anything but a skirt. We don't care for one another, as you might imagine, despite the fact that she is very Irish-American.[QUOTE]


Thats sad she is so stubborn to not call it a kilt, but then again we Irish are stubborn. I think even if you're not Scottish, if you have Celtic blood you should be respectful of the Kilt. I mean as we all know, the Scots were an Irish tribe originally, so I think the Scots and the Irish should be proud to be Celtic.

[Galb]

The only time my blood boiled was when a 20-something suggested I did something perverse with a sheep. He almost had his face meet my knee.

You should've responded with a "Yeah, your mother makes the same noise. I can see how it would easily confuse you. ;)"

[sharpdressedscot]

[QUOTE=IrishGodfather;551171][QUOTE=Jack Daw;551165]There's a female colleague at work who refuses to call it anything but a skirt. We don't care for one another, as you might imagine, despite the fact that she is very Irish-American.

Thats sad she is so stubborn to not call it a kilt, but then again we Irish are stubborn. I think even if you're not Scottish, if you have Celtic blood you should be respectful of the Kilt. I mean as we all know, the Scots were an Irish tribe originally, so I think the Scots and the Irish should be proud to be Celtic.

Exactly, man!


I still have problems with my dad, but that's it. I don't get no comments with the public, a few nods and second turns but that's it.

[Finn]

Last negative comment was from an overweight slutty teen girl who called it a skirt.

[McClef]

ALthough no doubt some think it's an insult to use the word skirt the kilt is, by its design, one form of skirt.

It goes round the waist and covers the trunk and a portion of the legs as all skirts do. But though all kilts are skirts not all skirts are kilts and its masculinity is in no way diminished.

Much more insulting is when people call a kilt a dress, except of course, in the context of National Dress.

[davedove]

3. KIDS! These are the best because the innocence of children bring out the embarrassment of adults. "Mommy, why is that man wearing a dress/skirt?" To which I get to see a parent quickly rush their child, red in the face, to explain the kilt.

The best is when a kid does that, then one of his companions, knowing a little more, replies in that superior tone kids can use when they know something, "That's not a skirt; it's a kilt."

[ardchoille]

I received compliments from women. It doesn't matter if they are alone or in a group of women, it has always been a compliment.

I've noticed that lone men don't usually make comments at all unless it's another kilted man and then it's usually a compliment.

The only "insults" I've received are from men in groups. I suppose they feel the need to "look good" in front of their buddies.

[Makeitstop]

KIDS! These are the best because the innocence of children bring out the embarrassment of adults. "Mommy, why is that man wearing a dress/skirt?" To which I get to see a parent quickly rush their child, red in the face, to explain the kilt.

I've had that happen a couple of times, but my favorite was when the mom was as clueless as the kid, and didn't have an answer.

I have heard it called a skirt by the following:

Women: Typically this has been from people who know its a kilt, and the word skirt just slips out. I think it's because they actually wear skirts, and therefore are much more likely to think about skirts, and thus when speaking without thinking, the word "skirt" comes out even though they mean "kilt."

Little kids: They don't know any better, and it's just so cute. and as mentioned above, the parent's reactions can be priceless as well.

Foreigners: I've been complimented by a Japanese man, and virtually interrogated by an old African man, who was desperately curious to know what it was, where I got it, and how much it cost. Like kids this is clearly just about not knowing the right word, and in no way meant to be insulting.

Idjits: Some people simply don't know what a kilt is, and will often assume you are cross-dressing. I have no idea how this is possible, but its true.

Jerks: Some people know its a kilt, and just want to accuse you of cross-dressing anyway.

My family: See "Jerks"

Me: In addition to making the occasional joke or pointing out some irony which involves the fact that I wear a "skirt," I also have a long standing habit of expressing disinterest or a lack of excitement by saying something "doesn't blow my skirt up" which I never think about, and isn't quite the same now that I wear a kilt.

[Nick the DSM]

its only jerks and ignorant people who call it a skirt, otherwise people actually know its a kilt.

[Alaskan Kilted Guy]

From Webster's dictionary:

Main Entry: 1skirt
Pronunciation: \ˈskərt\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old Norse skyrta shirt, kirtle — more at shirt
Date: 14th century
1 a (1): a free-hanging part of an outer garment or undergarment extending from the waist down (2): a separate free-hanging outer garment or undergarment usually worn by women and girls covering some or all of the body from the waist down


Main Entry: kilt
Function: noun
Date: circa 1730
1 : a knee-length pleated skirt usually of tartan worn by men in Scotland and by Scottish regiments in the British armies
2 : a garment that resembles a Scottish kilt


I don't worry if folks call it a skirt... .it is. I worry about tone of voice, are they being jerks about it? Are they being sincere and not aware of the more correct term? Usually I just say...Thanks!!