Oh DEAR, ZEN, I misread your sentence: I've been wearing skirts for years Something about the way you used “skirt” in the sentence I interpreted as sarcasm! (‘skirt’ is Pitts term not mine) I know better than to try to promote the use of kilt-like wear, or MUGs as referred to by grass roots promoters, before a bunch of manly men never labeling them as skirts myself!
Please refer to post numbered 36. ...there has been a correction. :b
I actually think that sarong is a word in Bahasa (Malaysian, Indonesian, etc.) for that type of wrap around dress.
But, at least in my experience, sarong in Malaysia is reserved for a feminine garment.
There used to be sort of a joke about this in Singapore, where some young women looking for adventure were referred to as SPGs, or Sarong Party Girls, for the ease with which a sarong could come off.
For sure similar garments are worn in the Pacific islands as well, but I think that they have a different name.