chemise
UK[ʃəˈmiːz]US[ʃəˈmiːz]
n
A loose piece of clothing for women, worn under other clothes such as a dress or a skirt.
n
A loose dress or shirt, especially one worn in the past.
Etymology
The word 'chemise' entered English in the late Middle Ages from Old French, where it referred to a shirt or undergarment. Its ultimate origin is the Late Latin 'camisia', meaning a shirt or nightgown, a term itself likely borrowed from a Germanic source, perhaps related to the Proto-Germanic 'hamiþiją' (shirt). The semantic journey reflects the garment's basic function, shifting from a general term for a shirt to a more specific item of women's lingerie or a loose dress in modern English. The word's persistence highlights the continuous cultural exchange in the realm of clothing and fashion.
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword from French. Its core form has been borrowed as a single lexical unit into English.
Examples
She wore a silk chemise under her wedding gown.
The painting depicted a woman in a simple white chemise.
This vintage pattern is for a comfortable summer chemise.