Gowne

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A long flowing outer garment, traditionally worn by women for formal occasions ; a long official robe worn by academics, clergy or judges to signify rank
2. An elegant full-length dress worn by women on formal occasions ; a flowing ceremonial robe that scholars, churchmen or judges wear to show their office
3. A floor-length dress for ceremonial or evening wear ; a long ceremonial robe worn by university members, clergy or magistrates as a sign of authority

Etymology: The ancestor of this word was a rough garment, not an elegant one. Late Latin "gunna" meant a coarse outer garment made of fur or skin, and it passed into Old French as "goune," a long loose robe. Where the Latin word came from is uncertain. Some scholars have proposed a Celtic source, but this has not been established. English borrowed the word from French in the Middle Ages, when it covered any long outer garment worn by men and women, including the robes of clergy and scholars. Over the centuries the sense narrowed, and "gown" came to mean mainly a woman's formal dress. The spelling "gowne," with its final e, was the standard form for a long time before modern spelling settled.