Shirtwaister

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A tailored top for women that resembles a button-up shirt while incorporating a waist-fitted design and often features details like sleeves and collars
2. A women's garment that merges the formal aspects of a shirt with a fitted waist, designed to create a polished look suitable for various occasions
3. A type of female attire combining the structure of a button-up top with a cinched waist design, typically featuring elements like collars and sleeves for a stylish appearance

Etymology: A "shirtwaister" is a compound of "shirt" and "waist," with the suffix "-er" added to make a noun for the garment itself. The "waist" here is the narrow part of the body between the ribs and hips, so the name describes a garment built to fit that part of the figure, in the manner of a shirt. Its shape was that of a tailored shirt cut for a woman, which is why the name works as a plain description rather than a metaphor. The word is a compound built from ordinary English parts, so the interest lies in what the parts describe. Shirtwaists were a staple of women's dress in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and the name kept the masculine shirt's construction while adapting it to a feminine silhouette. The garment was worn as a separate top with a skirt, which is how it came to stand for a practical, working-woman's blouse.

Synonyms: blouse, top