cloth that is usually of medium or heavy weight and has figures or ridges, as piqué, jacquard, dobby silk, or Bedford cord, originally used for decorative vests and now also for a variety of other garments.
the granting to an eligible employee of the right to specified pension benefits, regardless of discontinued employment status, usually after a fixed period of employment.
a close-fitting, waist-length, sleeveless garment that buttons down the front, designed to be worn under a jacket.
a part or trimming simulating the front of such a garment; vestee.Compare dickey1(def 1).
a waist-length garment worn for protective purposes: a bulletproof vest.
a sleeveless, waist- or hip-length garment made of various materials, with a front opening usually secured by buttons, a zipper, or the like, worn over a shirt, blouse, dress, or other article for style or warmth: a sweater vest; a down vest.
British. an undervest or undershirt.
a long garment resembling a cassock, worn by men in the time of Charles II.
to dress in ecclesiastical vestments: to vest a bishop.
to cover or drape (an altar).
to place or settle (something, especially property, rights, powers, etc.) in the possession or control of someone (usually followed by in): to vest authority in a new official.
to invest or endow (a person, group, committee, etc.) with something, as powers, functions, or rights: to vest the board with power to increase production; to vest an employee with full benefits in the pension plan.
to devolve upon a person as possessor; pass into possession or ownership.
Idioms
play it close to the vest, Informal. to avoid taking unnecessary risks.
Origin of vest
1375–1425; (noun) late Middle English < Italianveste robe, dress < Latinvestis garment; (v.) late Middle English < Middle Frenchvestir < Latinvestīre to clothe, derivative of vestis; akin to wear
Related formsvest·less, adjectivevest·like, adjective
an undergarment covering the body from the shoulders to the hips, made of cotton, nylon, etcUS and Canadian equivalent: T-shirt, undershirt Austral equivalent: singlet
a similar sleeveless garment worn as outerwearAustral equivalent: singlet
US, Canadian and Australiana man's sleeveless waistlength garment worn under a suit jacket, usually buttoning up the frontAlso called (in Britain and certain other countries): waistcoat
obsoleteany form of dress, esp a long robe
verb
(tr foll by in) to place or settle (power, rights, etc, in)power was vested in the committee
(tr foll by with) to bestow or confer (on)the company was vested with authority
(usually foll by in)to confer (a right, title, property, etc, upon) or (of a right, title, etc) to pass (to) or devolve (upon)
(tr)to clothe or array
(intr)to put on clothes, ecclesiastical vestments, etc
1610s, "loose outer garment" (worn by men in Eastern countries or in ancient times), from French veste, from Italian vesta, veste "robe, gown," from Latin vestis, from vestire "to clothe" (see vest (v.)). The sleeveless garment worn by men beneath the coat was introduced by Charles II.
The King hath yesterday, in Council, declared his resolution of setting a fashion for clothes .... It will be a vest, I know not well how; but it is to teach the nobility thrift. [Pepys, "Diary," Oct. 8, 1666]
vest
v.
early 15c., "to put in possession of a person," from Middle French vestir, from Medieval Latin vestire "to put into possession, to invest," from Latin vestire "to clothe," related to vestis "garment, clothing," from PIE *wes- "to clothe" (see wear). Related: Vested; vesting.
