'outskirts' originates from the combination of 'out' and 'skirt', where 'out' meant 'external' and 'skirt' referred to the edge or border.

'outskirts' evolved from the Middle English word 'outskyrtes', which combined 'out' and 'skyrtes', eventually becoming the modern English word 'outskirts'.

Initially, it meant 'the outer edge or border', and over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'the outer parts of a city or town'.