Origin of word "Skirt"

[skirttron]

While reading a book on origins of the English language, I saw that "Skirt" is Norse (roughly Viking) in origin (skyrta = "shirt").
Old English already contained "scyrte", which became modern "shirt", freeing "skirt" for its new below-the-waist usage.
So I guess we could say "Don't get skirty" or you could bet your skirt on a horse.

[Sasquatch]

Or "I'll give you the skirt off my back(side)."

[Stu]

While reading a book on origins of the English language, I saw that "Skirt" is Norse (roughly Viking) in origin (skyrta = "shirt").

The main modern Danish word for skirt is "nederdel" which means, literally, "lower part", so it was presumably the lower part of a dress or robe. Another, less commonly used Danish word for skirt is "skørt" (pronounced very similarly to the English skirt). This term is rarely used in the conventional sense these days - you would say a person is wearing a "nederdel", but it is used in many metaphors, such as "skørtjæger", meaning womaniser or, as we may say, skirt chaser.

Stu

[Since1982]

Youse guys are really skyrting the issues....