The petticoat is a type of underwear.
The term petticoat comes from nagua , which has its origins in the Taíno language. According to the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ), the nagua is a white inner skirt .
The saya , in turn, is a skirt or tunic . Returning to the idea of a petticoat , this is the name given to a feminine undergarment that is used under the skirt . One can speak of the petticoat (singular) or the petticoats (plural) with the same meaning.
Petticoat Features
It can be said that a petticoat is a kind of skirt . It is worn over underwear ( panties or panties ) but, at the same time, under the skirt itself.
Generally petticoats are made of polyester , silk , nylon or satin , following the weaving method known as tricot . They often have lace on their edges as a finishing touch and as ornamentation.
It is possible to differentiate between two types of petticoat. The petticoat that extends from the waist down is called a half petticoat , while the full petticoat falls from the chest to the skirt.
Reasons for use
There are several reasons that may prompt you to wear a petticoat. In any case, it is important to mention that this underwear was more popular in past centuries.
With the petticoat you can protect a fine fabric dress from the effects of perspiration . In turn, the petticoat reduces the irritation that wool and other thick fabrics can cause to the skin .
The petticoat, on the other hand, prevents underwear from being exposed if a flowy or transparent dress is chosen. It also helps prevent static electricity generated by certain fabrics.
The idea of a petticoat may refer to the skirt.
The male petticoat
The RAE recognizes other meanings of a petticoat beyond the one mentioned. A petticoat can also be a garment that, in ancient times , men used in special contexts.
This petticoat was made of black bayeta (a type of woolen fabric), extending between the waist and the feet. It used to be used in mourning for very close relatives or kings . In the processions that took place during Holy Week , meanwhile, the trumpeters wore petticoats.
The concept in Mexico
Continuing with the detail developed by the RAE , the word petticoat has two regional uses that occur in Mexican territory . In both cases, they are specified through the plural form ( enaguas ).
Petticoats, in this framework, are a feminine garment for outdoor use . Its peculiarity is that it hangs from the waist area to cover the legs or parts of them, like a skirt.
In addition, petticoats are referred to as a synonym for skirts , in the sense of the protection that mothers confer on their children. It can also be a protection that one person grants to another.
Petticoat and in water
It is worth mentioning that the notion of petticoat has nothing to do with water . Sometimes there is confusion with the expression “in water” , with a meaning that has no connection with the clothing.
“You have to leave the cereal in water so that it hydrates,” for example , refers to keeping a food submerged. There is no relationship with the aforementioned garment.