negligee
or neg·li·gée, neg·li·gé
[neg-li-zhey, neg-li-zhey]
- a dressing gown or robe, usually of sheer fabric and having soft, flowing lines, worn by women.
- easy, informal attire.
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Origin of negligee
1745–55, Americanism; < French négligé carelessness, undress, literally, neglected, past participle of négliger < Latin negligere, variant of neglegere to neglect
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for negligee
Contemporary Examples
She first appears onscreen in the late 1950s, flitting around the breakfast table in a negligee.
This sparkly amalgamation of sailor suit and negligee lives forever in infamy.
Historical Examples
Marjorie arose with her customary energy and reached for her negligee.
Marjorie Dean, College SophomorePauline Lester
Or rather, in a negligee costume, for I had taken off my evening gown and wore a tea-gown.
The Gold BagCarolyn Wells
Dudley's negligee shirt was open over his chest which was beaded with sweat.
NarcissusEvelyn Scott
She was pulling at the long broad blue ribbons of her negligee.
The Great God SuccessJohn Graham (David Graham Phillips)
She already was undressed—had on the negligee she's wearing now.
The Time MirrorClark South
negligee
neglige
- a woman's light dressing gown, esp one that is lace-trimmed
- a thin and revealing woman's nightdress
- any informal attire
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Word Origin
C18: from French négligée, past participle (fem) of négliger to neglect
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for negligee
n.
1756, "a kind of loose gown worn by women," from French négligée, noun use of fem. past participle of négligier "to neglect" (14c.), from Latin neglegere "to disregard, not heed, not trouble oneself about," also "to make light of" (see neglect (v.)). So called in comparison to the elaborate costume of a fully dressed woman of the period. Borrowed again, 1835; the modern sense "semi-transparent, flimsy, lacy dressing gown" is yet another revival, first recorded 1930. It also was used in the U.S. funeral industry mid-20c. for "shroud of a corpse."
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper