blouse

[ blous, blouz ]

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. Compare smock frock.

verb (used without object)

, bloused, blous·ing.

1. to puff out in a drooping fullness, as a blouse above a fitted waistband.

verb (used with object)

, bloused, blous·ing.

1. to dispose the material of a garment in loose folds, as trouser legs over the tops of boots.

blouse

/ 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

verb

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

Other Words From

• blouselike adjective
• blous·y adjective
• un·bloused adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of blouse¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of blouse¹

C19: from French, of unknown origin

Example Sentences

While the diagonal-striped jacket and skirt are custom-built, the contrasting red polka-dot blouse and shoes are vintage.

From Los Angeles Times

“Forgetting how to button your blouse or start the car would cause us a lot more concern than a woman who forgets a child’s birthday event or misplaces things – that is more common with women who are experiencing menopause,” Dr Beattie said.

From BBC

Taylor, in a white shirt, blue tie, no jacket; and Johnson, in a white blouse and silver necklace with a turquoise stone; take their seats at the reader’s desk, a small table set with a cloth and two book stands and flanked by twin flower arrangements.

From Los Angeles Times

She knows every suit, blouse and piece of jewelry she wears is going to be scrutinized like something out of “The Da Vinci Code” for political messaging and “hidden” meaning, so why not just put it all out there on Day 1?

From Los Angeles Times

The Duchess wore a white blouse with an aso-oke attire, a traditional hand-woven cloth from south-western Nigeria, wrapped around her waist.

From BBC

Related Words

• bodice
• pullover
• turtleneck