petrosilex (petrosileks)

[NL., pettifog petticote, pettecote, petycote; Se that youre souerayne haue clene shurt and breche, A petycote, a dublett, a long coote. Babees Book (E. E. T. S.), p. 176. 2. A skirt: formerly, the skirt of a woman's obe, frequently worn over a hoop or dre or robe, farthingale; now, an underskirt worn by women and children; also, in the plural, skirts worn by very young boys. I bought thee peticotes of the best, The cloth so fine as fine might be. Green sleeves (Child's Ballads, IV. 241). Her feet beneath her petticoat Like little mice stole in and out. Suckling, Ballad upon a Wedding. Their petticoats of linsey-woolsey were striped with a variety of gorgeous dyes-though I must confe these gallant garments were rather short, scarce reaching below the knee. Irving , Knickerbocker, p. 172.