shirtwaist

[ shurt-weyst ]

noun

1. a tailored blouse or shirt worn by women.
2. Also called shirt-dress, a dress with a bodice and a front opening tailored like those of a dress shirt.

Word History and Origins

Origin of shirtwaist¹

First recorded in 1875–80; shirt + waist

Example Sentences

An opening scene shows Gold swapping her designer dress with a refugee’s dirty shirtwaist to allow the woman to blend more easily into society.

From Los Angeles Times

Died while that woman was doing piece work for a shirtwaist factory.

From Literature

It was introduced on March 25, the 111th anniversary of the Triangle shirtwaist factory fire, which set in motion so many fundamental workplace reforms.

From New York Times

Today, a shadowbox containing a miniature shirtwaist dress embroidered with the names of the 146 garment workers killed in the fire marks that address.

From New York Times

The shirtwaist dress made Halston famous, a largely forgotten credit along with many of his other ready-to-wear mass market designs.

From Salon