Chemises

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of loose-fitting garment often worn as an underlayer, typically made of light fabric
2. Refers to a shirt-like dress or underdress that is worn primarily by women
3. Can also denote a simple, sleeveless dress or nightgown, typically designed for comfort and ease of movement

Etymology: The word originates from the Old French term "chemise," which referred to a simple garment worn next to the skin. This Old French word came into English usage around the late Middle Ages, roughly the 14th or 15th century, when French fashion and vocabulary heavily influenced English clothing terms. The garment itself was typically a loose-fitting linen shirt or underdress, worn by both men and women, though it became especially associated with women's undergarments over time. Tracing further back, "chemise" stems from the Late Latin "camisia," which also meant a shirt or tunic. The Latin term likely derived from a Gaulish or Celtic source, indicating a longstanding tradition of simple linen shirts in Western Europe. This lineage emphasizes the garment’s practical role as a basic layer of clothing, designed to protect outerwear from sweat and oils, and to provide modesty and comfort. As English borrowed the word, it retained much of its original meaning but gradually narrowed in use. By the 17th and 18th centuries, the term was more commonly used to describe a woman's underdress or nightgown rather than a general shirt. The plural form, with an "s" added, reflects the English convention of marking countable nouns, though the French plural is also "chemises." The term's journey from a broad descriptor of shirts to a more specialized term for a particular type of women's undergarment illustrates the shifts in fashion and social norms over centuries. The simple linen chemise evolved alongside changing styles and fabrics, but the word has endured, preserving a link to its medieval and classical origins.

Synonyms: shirt, dress