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peignoir

[peyn-wahr, pen-, peyn-wahr, pen-]
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noun

a woman's dressing gown.
a cloak or gown of terry cloth for wear after swimming or, especially in France, after the bath.

RELATED WORDS

frock, garment, bathrobe, vestment, costume, dress, kimono, smock, wrapper, wrap, robe, nightdress, camisole, dishabille, teddy, nightie, mantle, habit, negligee, outfit

Nearby words

  1. peh,
  2. pehlevi,
  3. pei,
  4. pei, i. m.,
  5. peiching,
  6. peiping,
  7. peipus,
  8. peiraeus,
  9. peiraievs,
  10. peirce

Origin of peignoir

1825–35; < French: literally, comber, i.e., something worn while one's hair is being combed, equivalent to peign(er) to comb (< Late Latin pectināre; see pecten) + -oir < Latin -ōrium -ory1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for peignoir

British Dictionary definitions for peignoir

peignoir

noun

a woman's dressing gown or negligee

Word Origin for peignoir

C19: from French, from peigner to comb, since the garment was worn while the hair was combed
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for peignoir

peignoir

n.

"lady's loose robe," 1835, from French peignoir, from Middle French peignouoir "garment worn over the shoulders while combing the hair" (16c.), from peigner "to comb the hair," from Latin pectinare, from pecten (genitive pectinis) "a comb," related to pectere "to comb" (see fight (v.)). A gown put on while coming from the bath; misapplied in English to a woman's morning gown.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper