deshabille

[ dez-uh-beel, -bee ]

noun

1. a variant of dishabille.

deshabille

/ ˌdeɪzæˈbiːl /

noun

1. the state of being partly or carelessly dressed
2. archaic.
   clothes worn in such a state

Word History and Origins

Origin of deshabille¹

C17: from French déshabillé undressed, from dés- dis- ¹+ habiller to dress; see habiliment

Example Sentences

There is the arresting bustier-and-tulle performance of “Like A Virgin” at the 1984 MTV Music Video Awards, where millions of viewers are convinced they have caught a glimpse of Madonna en deshabille.

From Los Angeles Times

As a rule, the British public likes its royal women to be as glamorous as possible, but around the duchess there is a new appetite for deshabille.

From The Guardian

The weather was hot and most of the guests were in some kind of deshabille, ranging from shorts to virtually nothing.

From The Guardian

The key items included a floppy scarf, breeches, vests and jackets, in a mix of painterly colors and worn with a studied deshabille.

From New York Times

Dorothy agreed to go out if she were allowed time to change her things; but Lily declared that she was tired after the journey, and preferred to look at illustrated papers in deshabille.

From Project Gutenberg