tunic

[ too-nik, tyoo- ]

noun

1. Chiefly British. a coat worn as part of a military or other uniform.
2. a gownlike outer garment, with or without sleeves and sometimes belted, worn by the ancient Greeks and Romans.
3. a woman's upper garment, either loose or close-fitting and extending over the skirt to the hips or below.
4. a garment with a short skirt, worn by women for sports.
5. Ecclesiastical. a tunicle.
6. Anatomy, Zoology. any covering or investing membrane or part, as of an organ.
7. Botany. an integument, as that covering a seed.

tunic

/ ˈtjuːnɪk /

noun

1. any of various hip-length or knee-length garments, such as the loose sleeveless garb worn in ancient Greece or Rome, the jacket of some soldiers, or a woman's hip-length garment, worn with a skirt or trousers
2. anatomy botany zoology a covering, lining, or enveloping membrane of an organ or part See also tunica
3. RC Church another word for tunicle

Other Words From

• sub·tunic noun
• super·tunic noun
• under·tunic noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tunic¹

before 900; (< French tunique ) < Latin tunica; perhaps also continuing Old English tunece, tunica < Latin

Word History and Origins

Origin of tunic¹

Old English tunice (unattested except in the accusative case), from Latin tunica

Example Sentences

Sharing the bed with Bibi Hajira, wearing a purple tunic, her tiny arm covering her face, is three-year-old Sana.

From BBC

And as I leaned over, when I was talking to Jeff, I was unbuttoning his tunic, and then realized only the top three unbuttoned and it was actually done with a zip on the back.

From Salon

Wearing traditional white robes, a patterned tunic and a black face mask, Farzad Mansouri proudly carried the Afghanistan flag into Tokyo's Olympic Stadium.

From BBC

Rasseem wrestled himself free of the friendly beating and straightened his tunic.

From Literature

Underneath the cloak were a black tunic, trousers, and boots—all the same color as the fur had been.

From Literature

Related Words

• blouse
• coat
• jacket
• robe