Blouse

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /blaʊs/

Definitions

1. A loose-fitting upper garment often associated with women's fashion that features various styles and may include decorative elements
2. An upper-body clothing item typically associated with female attire, which can be styled in multiple ways and made from diverse fabrics
3. A type of top commonly worn by women that is characterized by its loose fit and versatility in design, often incorporating embellishments and different fabric types

Etymology: The French "blouse" originally named a loose, shapeless smock worn by workmen and peasants, not a garment for fashionable women. The English word arrived from that French sense in 1828, and for well over a century it kept the working-class associations of its origin. The garment we now picture, a fitted or flowing top for women, only took shape as a fashion item later, as the word's meaning shifted from the coarse overall to the lighter, more decorative top. The surprise is how far the word traveled from its first sense. A word once tied to labor clothing now describes almost anything a woman might wear on top, from a crisp work shirt to an embroidered silk evening piece. The loose fit that gave the original smock its name survives in the modern usage, even though the fabrics and purposes have changed.

Synonyms: top, shirt, tunic

Antonyms: bottom, pants