blouse

American  

[blous, blouz] / blaʊs, blaʊz /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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verb

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

Other Word Forms

• blouselike adjective
• blousy adjective
• unbloused adjective

Etymology

Origin of blouse

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

Example Sentences

She’s by his side clasping her hands, wearing a colorful blouse that pales in radiance to Huerta’s hopeful face as she looks at the crowd before them.

From Los Angeles Times

At least in the other cell there had been bright bits of clothing: the baroness’ red hat, Frau Mikes’ yellow blouse.

From Literature

Now, in her middy blouse with the sailor bow tie, she still looked like a high school girl.

From Literature

I accrued last night’s infraction because my last clean blouse was the wrong color; it’s not as if I’ve magically acquired more white ones since then.

From Literature

As police searched for the Tesla, they relayed details over the radio: The suspect’s hair was in braids; she wore a cream-colored blouse; her car was dirty on the bottom.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bodice
• pullover
• turtleneck