Sc. Also 8 philebeg, 8–9 philabeg, -ibeg, fillibeg, feilbeg, 9 philiberg, phillibeg. [ad. Gael. feileadh-beag the kilt of modern shape, f. feileadh a fold, plait + beag little, as distinguished from feileadh-mor the large kilt of primitive form.] A kilt.
1746. Act 19–21 Geo. II., c. 39 § 17. The Plaid, Philebeg, or little Kilt.
1771. Pennant, Tour Scot, I. (1790), 210. The feil beg, i. e. little plaid, also called kelt, is a sort of short petticoat reaching only to the knees, and is a modern substitute for the lower part of the plaid, being found to be less cumbersome, especially in time of action.
1773. Johnson, Lett. to Mrs. Thrale, 24 Sept. Old Malcolm in his filibeg, was as nimble as when he led the prince over the mountains.
1794. Burns, Jolly Beggars, John Highlandman.
| With his philabeg and tartan plaid, | |
| And gude claymore down by his side, | |
| The ladies’ hearts he did trepan, | |
| My gallant, braw John Highlandman. |
1828. Landor, Imag. Conv., III. 203. Persian robes and Scotch phillibegs, claymores, and scymitars.
