blouse

[blous, blouz]

noun

1. a usually lightweight, loose-fitting garment for women and children, covering the body from the neck or shoulders more or less to the waistline, with or without a collar and sleeves, worn inside or outside a skirt, slacks, etc.

2. a single-breasted, semifitted military jacket.

3. a loose outer garment, reaching to the hip or thigh, or below the knee, and sometimes belted.

verb (used without object)

bloused, blousing 

1. to puff out in a drooping fullness, as a blouse above a fitted waistband.

verb (used with object)

bloused, blousing 

1. to dispose the material of a garment in loose folds, as trouser legs over the tops of boots.

blouse

/ blaʊz /

noun

1. a woman's shirtlike garment made of cotton, nylon, etc

2. a loose-fitting smocklike garment, often knee length and belted, worn esp by E European peasants

3. a loose-fitting waist-length belted jacket worn by soldiers

verb

1. to hang or make so as to hang in full loose folds

Other Word Forms

• blouselike adjective
• blousy adjective
• unbloused adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of blouse¹

1820–30; < French, perhaps from the phrase *vêtement de laine blouse garment of short (i.e., uncarded, pure) wool; compare Provençal ( lano ) blouso pure (wool) < Old High German blōz naked, cognate with Old English bleat poor, miserable

Word History and Origins

Origin of blouse¹

C19: from French, of unknown origin

Example Sentences

But for all the calculated cruelty and blind ignorance, there is a humorous angle to the conditions on Parris Island: The intimate living conditions, the constant showering, the “blouses,” the “mounting.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Perhaps wisely, Blazy didn't stray too far from Chanel's classic look with his first collection, which was marked by stylish tweaks to the fashion giant's blouses, suits and tweeds.

Read more on BBC

In it, my grandmother wears a crisp white blouse, collar popped up, tucked into a matching full skirt.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Under her blouse she wore a ballistic vest.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Following “the Sydney Cherkov way,” she wears a lilac blouse that telegraphs meek, demure energy.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• bodice 
• pullover 
• turtleneck