Camisole

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈkamɪsəʊl/

Definitions

1. A sleeveless garment usually worn by women that serves as both an underlayer and a standalone top for casual wear or sleep
2. This light top features thin straps and is often made from soft fabric, suitable for layering or relaxation at home
3. A lightweight sleeveless shirt typically worn by women either as an undershirt or as a casual top without sleeves

Etymology: The garment's name comes from a shirt. Old Occitan, the language of southern France, had "camisa," meaning shirt, and from it formed "camisola," a diminutive: a little shirt. The word passed into French as "camisole," and English borrowed it from there. The French form came with its own shape of clothing, and the English word kept the sense of a light, loose upper garment worn close to the body. Its diminutive ending is the key to how it works. A camisole is, in effect, a small shirt, one cut down to a few layers of fabric and no sleeves. Many English words borrowed from French kept this pattern of a root plus a diminutive suffix, so the word reads as a compact version of the thing it names.

Synonyms: tank top, sleeveless top, undergarment, lingerie, blouse