shirt

[ shurt ]

noun

1. a long- or short-sleeved garment for the upper part of the body, usually lightweight and having a collar and a front opening.
2. an undergarment of cotton, or other material, for the upper part of the body.
3. a shirtwaist.
4. a nightshirt.

shirt

/ ʃɜːt /

noun

1. a garment worn on the upper part of the body, esp by men, usually of light material and typically having a collar and sleeves and buttoning up the front
2. short for nightshirt undershirt
3. keep your shirt on informal.
   refrain from losing your temper (often used as an exhortation to another)
4. put one's shirt on informal.
   to bet all one has on (a horse, etc)
5. lose one's shirt on informal.
   to lose all one has on (a horse, etc)

Other Words From

• shirtless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of shirt¹

before 1150; Middle English schirte, Old English scyrte; cognate with German Schürze, Dutch schort apron, Old Norse skyrta skirt

Word History and Origins

Origin of shirt¹

Old English scyrte; related to Old English sceort short , Old Norse skyrta skirt, Middle High German schurz apron

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in one's shirt sleeves, without a coat: Also in one's shirt-sleeves.

   It was so hot that they worked in their shirt sleeves.

2. keep one's shirt on, Informal. to refrain from becoming angry or impatient; remain calm:

   Tell him to keep his shirt on until we're ready.

3. lose one's shirt, Informal. to lose all that one possesses; suffer a severe financial reverse:

   He lost his shirt in the stock market.

More idioms and phrases containing shirt

see give the shirt off one's back ; hair shirt ; keep one's shirt on ; lose one's shirt ; stuffed shirt .

Example Sentences

In a picture probably from the late 1940s he wears a flannel shirt tucked into trousers.

From Salon

They helped find a couple of the key items in the chair, including that one Olympic experience shirt that had the autographs of the athletes, which I thought was pretty special.

From Los Angeles Times

There are a few elements on the chair that I had asked them to find, like there’s a logo shirt that they helped me source that was the main graphic for the Olympics.

From Los Angeles Times

They also surprised me with a surfing shirt that just says “California” that’s on the ottoman.

From Los Angeles Times

At least a few of the items made it onto the chair — this one white Adidas hat that’s on the top-left corner and a diving shirt.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• blouse
• jersey
• pullover
• tunic
• turtleneck