Tees

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of shirt characterized by its short sleeves and round neckline; a casual garment often made of cotton, frequently worn in informal settings; also refers to the act of preparing or placing a ball on a tee in golf, ensuring it is ready for play
2. A casual piece of clothing typically made from soft cotton, designed with a simple shape and a crew or V-neck; it is commonly utilized for everyday wear or as a base layer; additionally, it relates to the sport of golf, where a tee is used to elevate the ball for a cleaner strike
3. A lightweight top often featuring a simple design and made from comfortable fabric, primarily designed for casual use; it is popular in various styles and can be worn alone or layered; in golf, it signifies the device used to hold a ball off the ground for tee shots

Etymology: The shirt takes its name from the letter T. Its cut, with the body running straight down and the sleeves stretched out horizontally, forms that letter's shape. "Tees" is simply the plural of "tee," the name of the letter T, so the shirts are named for a plural of a letter. The singular "tee" has an odd history. It is a back-formation from "teaz," a form first recorded in the 17th century. Speakers apparently took "teaz" to be a plural and removed the supposed ending to create a new singular, "tee." Once the plural was reanalysed this way, it could be pluralised again, which gives us "tees." Its use for a T-shaped pipe in computing shows the same idea, a T-shape being used as a name for a familiar object.

Synonyms: t-shirts, tops, jerseys, shirts, blouses