tunic

American  

[too-nik, tyoo-] / ˈtu nɪk, ˈtyu- /

noun

1. Chiefly British. a coat worn as part of a military or other uniform.

2. a gownlike outer garment, with or without sleeves and sometimes belted, worn by the ancient Greeks and Romans.

3. a woman's upper garment, either loose or close-fitting and extending over the skirt to the hips or below.

4. a garment with a short skirt, worn by women for sports.

5. Ecclesiastical. a tunicle.

6. Anatomy, Zoology. any covering or investing membrane or part, as of an organ.

7. Botany. an integument, as that covering a seed.

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tunic British  

/ ˈtjuːnɪk /

noun

1. any of various hip-length or knee-length garments, such as the loose sleeveless garb worn in ancient Greece or Rome, the jacket of some soldiers, or a woman's hip-length garment, worn with a skirt or trousers

2. anatomy botany zoology a covering, lining, or enveloping membrane of an organ or part See also tunica

3. RC Church another word for tunicle

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Other Word Forms

• subtunic noun
• supertunic noun
• undertunic noun

Etymology

Origin of tunic

before 900; (< French tunique ) < Latin tunica; perhaps also continuing Old English tunece, tunica < Latin

Example Sentences

She wore the striped skirt and tunic of Plaszow’s female prisoners.

From Literature

I stuffed my mattress and pillow with dried grass and used the rest to weave a rough tunic for myself, and mats to cover myself at night.

From Literature

"I looked at him more this year... and picked up on the collar, the cut and length of the tunic," he said.

From BBC

Like the dancers, both Hawk and West wore Russian-inspired fur hats, tunics and baggy red pants.

From Los Angeles Times

When she was tossed by the cow, her tunic ripped.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• blouse
• coat
• jacket
• robe