A woman of light character.
1597–8. Bp. Hall, Sat., I. viii. Solomon … Singing his love, the holy spouse of Christ, Like as she were some light-skirts of the East.
1602. 2nd Pt. Return Parnass., I. ii. 310. Hath not Shor’s wife, although a light skirts she, Giuen him a chast long lasting memory?
1616. T. Tuke, Treat. agst. Paint., 39. Actions … becomming onely light-skirts, and idle women.
1632. Quarles, Div. Fancies, IV. xii. (1660), 145. I’le tell thee, Light-skirts, whosoever taught Thy feet to dance, thy dancing had a Fault.
1834. Sir H. Taylor, 2nd Pt. Artevelde, III. iii. 114. She’s a light skirts!
1898. Lit. World, 4 Feb., 103. To consider her [Highland Mary’s] story … either (1) she was something of a light-skirts, or (2) she is a kind of Scottish Mrs. Harris.
b. attrib. (in form light-skirt).
1602. 2nd Pt. Return fr. Parnass., I. vi. 468. You light skirt starres, this is your wonted guise, By glomy light perke out your doutfull heads.
1619. W. Sclater, Exp. 1 Thess. (1630), 49. Any light-skirt Dame, or Courtly Herodias shall rather be imitated.
1891. W. A. Clouston, in Athenæum, 3 Oct., 452/1. [The parrot] told tales to its master of his light-skirt wife.
